Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood turns 50 today! Here are 5 favorite episodes to share with your own kids.
Today marks the 50th anniversary of the first episode of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. As a kid who looked forward to watching him and Mr. McFeely and Lady Elaine Fairchilde every day on our teensy black-and-white ’70s TV, I can think of nothing better than...
The Disney Channel’s first gay character makes me shout yay for Andi Mack! | Thinking Parent
Last season, my family discovered the Disney Channel show Andi Mack and we were instantly hooked. This series for tweens and young teens pulled us in with its smart writing, well-developed characters, and diverse cast. But after the recent Season 2 premiere, I love...
New on Netflix for families in August: Top picks from cute kids’ cartoons to kitschy 80s classics to Sing! (Whoo!)
If your family is like mine, summer nights are more often Netflix and chill (like, actually chilling, not a euphemism) than theater and $7 snacks. So, I thought I’d look ahead to the next month and round up what’s new on Netflix for families in August so...
8 ideas for hosting an awesome Gilmore Girls watch party that even Lorelai and Rory would want to come to.
You may have heard Gilmore Girls fans across the globe collectively freaking out over the revival event coming to Netflix Thanksgiving weekend — Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life. We will, of course, be watching while Rory continues to figure out her life and...
9 great TV shows for tweens that you might not have considered
Ah, the tween years. That in-between stage when your kid is so not your baby anymore, but not yet your teenager. They start to think the sweet, educational shows they used to love are “for babies,” but you’re not ready to let them watch shows...
Chatting with Lisa Loeb about why kids music doesn’t actually suck | Spawned ep 51
If you think kids’ music is the stuff that makes you want to jab forks into your ears, then you need to listen to the latest episode of Spawned with Kristen + Liz, featuring the one-and-only Lisa Loeb! This indie alt rocker sensation turned mom of two and kindie...
The worst TV shows for kids with Wendi Aarons | Spawned episode 49
On this week’s episode of Spawned with Kristen and Liz, we’re chatting with humorist and writer Wendi Aarons about one of the most popular posts she wrote on Cool Mom Picks: The 9 worst television shows for kids. Wow, did people have a lot to say about...
The 9 worst children’s TV shows that made my life a living hell: 2002–2009 Edition
We’re happy to welcome guest columnist, Wendi Aarons. She’s funny. When I was pregnant with my first son, way back in 2001, I had no intention of ever letting him watch television. Expose my precious baby’s developing brain to the mindless crap that spewed...
A toy that’s as magnetic as the man himself; Happy Birthday Mister Rogers!
To commemorate what would have been Mister Rogers’ 88th birthday today, we’re going to get him all dressed up for the special occasion. How about a purple cardigan and a pair of roller skates? Or maybe a fireman’s hat, sunglasses, and a bowtie? With...Father’s Day is Coming!
Hi! We’re Kristen + Liz!
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 did.
And we still love what we do every single day.
We're so glad you're here.
Our Podcast. (It’s won awards and everything!)
Follow us on Instagram
Covid Support + Quarantine Help for Families
* Our complete Covid-19 and quarantine archives
* Expert tips for talking to your kids. Very reassuring!
* Helping teens who are struggling
* Quarantine birthday party ideas
* Fun ways to celebrate your graduate
* Board games to play over Zoom or Facetime
* Pantry-stocking tips from someone who's trained her whole life for this
* Meal planning tips during quarantine to stretch your budget and your time
* The best ways to clean and disinfect your phones and gadgets
* 10 books to help our kids + teens cope with anxiety
* Safety tips for ordering take-out and delivery
* 15 awesome podcasts to keep kids engaged
* Simple ways to connect with our own moms and grandmas when we're apart
Doing Good: We’re Supporting…
“Who else is giving up on screen time limits right now?”
“I over-ordered sour cream! What can I do with it all?’
Work with us!
