How to talk to your children about mass shootings, bombings, and other tragedies in the news: Helpful resources
Another day, another mass shooting. And I’m not being flip. Today it’s the unfathomably awful Christchurch, New Zealand mosque shootings. In the recent past, it’s been Las Vegas, Orlando, Parkland, Sandy Hook, Nice, London, Boston,...
The one thing all kids should be learning in school that they’re not.
We talk so much about the need for STEM education. Kids need computer skills, engineering skills, science of all kinds. We mourn the disappearance of cursive from the curriculum. We discuss which books our kids should be reading, and whether new math is genius —...
3 great printable sleep logs. Because we’ll try anything, you know?
Recently, we’ve seen more and more doctors recommending sleep logs and sleep journals for those of us who regularly wake during the night, or have trouble falling asleep in the first place. It makes sense. Especially for parents. One of our problems, which KJ...
How to raise creative, imaginative kids in a digital world with Peter McNerney and Beth Newell | Spawned Ep 142
We’re always looking for ways to foster imagination and creativity in our kids, and who better than to help us with that than Peter McNerney from Story Pirates, and his wife Beth Newell, co-host of the We Knows Parenting podcast, both of whom are popular...
The 5 biggest sleep-training mistakes that parents make and how to fix them | Spawned episode 141
Is there anything new parent topic that generates more controversy than sleep training? Arguably…no way. But can we finally stop fighting about what’s right and wrong? Yes! Maybe? Certified sleep training expert Tamiko Kelly, owner of Sleep Well Wake...
Activism 101: How to get involved with issues you care about when you don’t see yourself as the activist type | Spawned 140
We talk a lot about being the change you want to see in the world, but how do you do that? How do you get started? What if you’re like us, crazy-busy parents who are already juggling a lot of stuff? What if the word “activist” doesn’t seem to...
Paris with kids: Tips, tricks, and helpful advice for a memorable Paris family vacation
Over the Thanksgiving break, we enjoyed a vacation in Paris with kids, and wow, I’m still thinking about our amazing time. I have to admit that I was worried taking my family of six to Europe for the first time, but thanks to lots of research and planning, we...
Traveling to Iceland with kids: Everything you need to know and more!
If you’re thinking about traveling to Iceland with kids like we did last summer, let me just say you’re in for a special treat. Our trip in August 2018 was one of my all-time favorite family vacations. Whether you’re currently planning an Icelandic...
How to make more time for the things you love with Jake Knapp | Spawned Episode 138
If you’re like us, then you’ve said something like “I wish I had more time” at least once. Or like 1000 times. Well, that’s exactly what we learned how to do with author Jake Knapp in our recent Spawned with Kristen and Liz podcast...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.
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