by Christina Refford | Holiday Picks
The span between shopping for a preschooler and finding a holiday gift for a college student seems impossibly short, now that many of us have hit that stage of parenting. But what remains is the desire to make the holidays really special for our kids. And since even...
by Liz Gumbinner | Books for Kids
If you know our site, you know it doesn’t have to be International Day of the Girl Child for us to recommend inspiring new books for girls. And yet, today is that day, and I just happen to have a couple of new books on my desk that I’m excited to share...
by Liz Gumbinner | Books for Adults, Podcast, Thinking : Parent
According to Dr. Seema Yasmin, we’re living through a misinformationdemic. I’ve always thought that media literacy should be a mandatory subject for kids, but it’s never been more evident than today — so I’m incredibly grateful for...
by Liz Gumbinner | Holiday Picks, Kids
When Lisa asked us for cool non-candy Halloween gift ideas for her tween/teen nieces and nephews, I was on the case! I checked with my own Halloween-loving but decidedly…particular teens to see what kinds of things they would think are cool. I mean, of course...
by Christina Refford | Cards + Stationery, Doing Good
If your kids’ book covers or school folders are looking a little plain this early in the school year, take a look at the cool social justice stickers we’ve just discovered from new, teen-led Etsy shop Gen Z for Equity. The stickers were all designed by...
by Christina Refford | Health, Fitness + Wellbeing, Tips + Tricks
Like so many other desperate — and exhausted — parents, we turned to melatonin supplements to help my son sleep when he was younger. I spoke to our pediatrician first of course, and did enough research about melatonin on my own to know that melatonin...
by Christina Refford | Back to School Shopping, Fashion
A reader reached out this year to ask for a few of our favorite cool plus-size clothes for teens, to help get her own teen daughter up to speed for back-to-school. And we are happy to oblige! Considering school will be starting up again soon, we know our teens will be...
by Liz Gumbinner | Back to School Shopping, Tips + Tricks
With back to school coming up, I’m sharing some of my favorite personalized label ideas to help keep you organized, keep you sane, save you money (whoo!) and even keep the peace if you have more than one kid. (Parents of two or more, you know what I’m...
by Liz Gumbinner | Podcast, Tips + Tricks
Was the college search always this overwhelming or does it just feel that way? Do my kids really need to take the SATs? Does test-optional really mean optional? How did covid impact admissions? When should I be signing up my kid for college tours? Or wait…should...
by Liz Gumbinner | Health, Fitness + Wellbeing, Tips + Tricks
Is there actually a tampon shortage right now? Evidently, yes. As if the recent formula shortage hasn’t been hard enough on (mostly) women, now…this. Sigh. But at least there are some great alternatives, if not permanent solutions to tampons or pads. And...
We started Cool Mom Picks in 2006 to help make life cooler, more meaningful, and more fun for parents of all kinds. Whether you found us from appearances on the TODAY Show, from a Google search, or from a friend, we're so glad you're here.
