7 tips to help kids walk to school safely. Because October 5 shouldn’t be the only Walk to School Day!
Back in my school day, my mom let me walk alone to school, my friends’ homes, and the pizzeria by the time I was 10 years old. (Uphill, both ways, and barefoot, no less.) Fast forward to me as a parent and I admit my own kids — now ages 12 and 9 —...
5 simple tips to help parents prevent and deal with bullying. We get it. We’ve been there. And it sucks.
Bullying is nothing new. Unfortunately. And I still have the emotional scars from 7th grade to prove it. But for our 21st century kids, bullying is only amplified with the lively presence of social media in all our kids’ lives, meaning now bullying that...
5 tested tips for handling separation anxiety, from parents who have been there too
I know a little something about dealing with separation anxiety when it comes to young kids and school. Back when my kids were in preschool, this was my routine: drop them off at the classroom, peel around the corner and press my back against the wall, then wait...
How to talk about safety with kids: Why we talk about tricky people and not stranger danger.
In an increasingly connected world, we parents can feel overwhelmed about making sure our kids are protected and knowing how to talk to kids about safety, strangers, and all that other stuff that we wish we didn’t have to. We know it can be tough. While keeping...
Web coolness: Outrageous Etch-a-Sketch art, cutest Instagram feed ever, a can’t-miss sale and more.
Here are some links we’ve liked reading around the web this week. Hope you like them too. Yeah…our kids have never done this with their Etch-a-Sketches. Check out all the remarkable sketches from Jane Labowitch on Instagram. Every like/comment on this...
Web coolness: The new Wonder Woman stamps, picky eater lifesavers, and an inspiring Twitter meme for all of us.
Here are some links we’ve liked reading around the web this week. We hope you like them too. Our 2016 Back to School Shopping Guide is live! Get ready for some seriously cool finds for the kids. If you’re feeling patriotic these days, this baby and...
After Nice: Advice for talking to kids about terrorism and tragedy, and where to donate
In light of the Nice, France Bastille Day celebration attack last night, our hearts are heavy — again — as they have been far too many times lately. When we look for advice about talking to our own children about tragedies like these, it becomes clear...
16 essential skills kids learn from LEGO, and fantastic resources to help get them going
Of all the toys that have passed through the hands of my three kids over the past dozen or so years, there is no question that LEGO bricks have been the most enduring and versatile. From their first little plastic bucket of mixed bricks, to those 1000+ piece...
Web Coolness: Last-minute help for Father’s Day, the ultimate bacon recipe, and our vote for Father of the Year
This has been some week. A lot of ups, a lot of very down downs, and a whole lot to read. Here are some of the links that we’ve been reading this week and we hope you like them too. Still scrambling to celebrate your favorite dad in your life? We can help....Hi! We’re Kristen + Liz!
We started Cool Mom Picks in 2006 to help make life cooler, easier, more organized, 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).
But we did.
And we still love what we do every single day.
We're so glad you're here.
Easter gifts, treats, activities + more
NEW: Answers to Parents’ Top Tech Questions
Our sponsors are cool. Support them.
Work with us!
“Is Fortnight safe for my kids?”
“Help! I have to feed my kids again!”
Doing Good: We’re Supporting…
