gifts for teens + tweens Archives

The coolest lunch box accessories, water bottles, and other goodies to make school lunch more fun | Back to School Shopping Guide

by Liz Gumbinner | Back to School Shopping, School Gear

Each year, in our annual back to school shopping guide, we always love tracking down those cool lunch box accessories, water bottles, bentos, and other fun goodies that help make opening that same old lunch box every day a little more special. Only last year… we...

Try these must-read books for kids who like video games. Because all genres are good genres!

by Kate Etue | Books for Kids

I’ve been searching the shelves of my local bookstore to find great books for kids who like video games. And I’m sharing them here, because I know I am not the only parent whose once-avid reader would much rather pick up an Xbox controller than a book...

The coolest Ted Lasso gifts, just in time for Season 2

by Caroline Siegrist | Entertainment + Media, Living

The AFC Richmond fans say it’s the hope that kills you, but I’m here to say that it’s really the anticipation — of Ted Lasso Season 2, obvs. Luckily, it’s finally here, starting July 23, and I can almost taste the homemade biscuits. So to...

We found 8 stylish, athletic two-piece swimsuits for teens who aren’t feeling the teeny bikinis

by Kate Etue | Fashion, Kid Fashion

While some of our daughters are rocking the teeny bikini this summer, others are more interested in athletic two-piece swimsuits that let them be as active in the pool or on the beach as they’d like. It turns out it’s a little harder to find stylish but...

The best summer camp care package ideas for tweens and teens: A helpful list from a mom who’s been sending them for 8 years

by Liz Gumbinner | Kids, Tips + Tricks

We are completely celebrating the return to summer camp around here. And I am celebrating the joy of putting together summer camp care packages for my tweens and teens! After the year they have had, the chance to run around with friends, swim, be silly, stay up too...

10 fashionable beach totes we absolutely love this summer

by Kate Etue | Fashion

Summer is officially here, and for those of you who are hoping to spend most of your time around the pool or at the beach…we’ve found some of the most fashionable beach totes to elevate your summer style. I know, you probably don’t immediately think...

7 terrific new YA books with LGBTQ+ main characters: They’re not just for Pride Month

by Kate Etue | Books for Kids

Happy Pride! It’s been such a joy finding so many terrific YA books with LGBTQ+ main characters for this post. I always turn to books when I am looking for resources to help more kids feel seen and understood — and to help kids see and understand other...

11 of the best Prime Day 2021 Deals from brands we trust. No “ACKHYDRO” or “PROFORL7” or whatever.

by Liz Gumbinner | Baby, Living, Tech CMP-Style, Toys + Playthings

Each year, we try to go through all the clutter and crap, and put together the best Amazon Prime Day deals for you. I mean, with all due respect to the “flash deals” on Amazon Prime Day that look like your Great Aunt Hilda just cleaned out her attic, This...

7 cool tie-dye pattern tutorials to help you DIY your own trendy tee

by Kate Etue | DIY, Fashion, Kid Fashion

My 15-year-old son recently came home after a camp planning meeting with his friends and announced that they have decided to tie-dye their camp shirts this year. I kind of love this idea, so I wanted to look up some tie-dye pattern tutorials on You Tube to help them...

Why I’m supporting these brands and their cool Pride month products and collaborations.

by Liz Gumbinner | Doing Good, Living, Style + Beauty

I had a long talk with my (avidly LGBTQ+ supporting) teens this week about the overlap between Pride Month and brands. On one hand, there’s an argument about the “corporatization” of Pride Month, and the rainbow washing of products. On the other...

Hi! We’re Kristen + Liz!

Kristen Chase + Liz Gumbinner of Cool Mom Picks

We started Cool Mom Picks in 2006 to help make life cooler, more meaningful, and more fun for parents of all kinds.

Trivia: It was called Cool Mom Sh*t for the first two days. (Yeah, we rethought that.)

We had no idea our site would grow to become a major lifestyle network, that we'd end up sharing our finds with the TODAY Show and Martha Stewart, that we'd be able to make a real difference for so many small businesses and women-run companies, or that we'd end up with an incredible community of the coolest readers on the planet. (If we do say so ourselves).

We still love what we do every single day. And we're so glad you're here.