social media Archives | Cool Mom Picks

Our kids are sharing memes about WWIII. Here’s how to talk to kids about the fear of war.

by Liz Gumbinner | Thinking : Parent, Tips + Tricks

In light of this week’s rapid increase in tension between the US, Iran, and Iraq, my social feeds are packed with parents sharing similar sentiments as Asha Dornfest did on Twitter: My children and their friends are sharing WW3 memes to cope with their fear and...

How to be a tech-positive parent (and why you want to be one) | Spawned Episode 175

by Cool Mom Staff | Podcast

When we started Cool Mom Tech almost 10 years ago, there wasn’t a lot of language around digital parenting. But considering we tend to be the non-alarmist type of parents, we approached parenting our own digital-native kids like other difficult parenting topics: with...

4 smart, simple tips to help kids make good media choices with their screen time.

by Cool Mom Staff | Tech CMP-Style, Tips + Tricks

We write a lot about the importance of raising good digital citizens. The way we see it, the internet isn’t going away, and the older your kids get, the harder it is to start teaching them good behavior. So we start young, so that as kids get older,...

The most creative handmade kids’ Halloween costumes on Instagram this year

by Liz Gumbinner | Kids

I’ve seen so many clever Halloween costumes this year, it’s hard to keep up! There are always the year’s super popular costumes — the astronauts, the princesses, the superheroes and a lot of VSCO girls. (Including me, ha. Hey, it was what I...

Can we please stop freaking out about kids and social media? : How to raise responsible digital kids | Spawned Ep 170

by Cool Mom Staff | Podcast, Tech CMP-Style, Tips + Tricks

After seeing so many discussions in our Out Tech Your Kids Facebook community filled with parents who seem panicked — or at least very concerned — about kids and texting and social media, we thought it would be helpful to devote this week’s episode...

#SpeaktoStrangers Challenge: 30 days to a kinder world.

by Liz Gumbinner | Random Coolness, Thinking : Parent

When I woke up this morning, I caught this thread on Twitter from Asha Rangappa and was instantly taken. Her premise: Spending just a moment engaging with a stranger in a kind way can create ripples that make the world, quite literally, a better, more enjoyable place....

Illustrators see the beauty and meaning of Halle Bailey as Ariel and we’re here for it.

by Liz Gumbinner | Entertainment + Media

With the announcement of the inspired casting of Halle Bailey as Ariel in the upcoming Little Mermaid live action reboot, certain people in certain corners of the internet lost their GD minds. I alternated between bemusement and more uh, intense feelings, about those...

These very funny award ribbons honor all your dubious achievements

by Liz Gumbinner | Random Coolness

It’s become a cliché that everyone today wants a trophy. Not true at all. Some of us are perfectly happy with a first-place ribbon. And so you have to check out the very funny award ribbons at Frankie and Claude, honoring all kinds of everyday achievements....

Presenting the Cool Mom Picks Virtual Book Club: Join us! It’s easy, fun, and there will be wine.

by Cool Mom Staff | Books for Adults

For years, we have wanted to host some kind of parenting book club for our readers — an opportunity for us to chat about some of the hot topics and best titles out there that interest parents today, without too much pressure or time. (We get it! We’re...

10 super easy, totally free ways to help support your favorite independent publishers + keep that content free for you!

by Cool Mom Staff | Doing Good, Tips + Tricks

It’s hard out there for an independent publisher. But here we are, like we have been for the past 13 (whoa!) years, putting out out stories, offering tips, and uncovering cool finds that we really hope our readers enjoy — all while making sure it remains...