More coolness from recent weeks…
ParaKito: A natural alternative to mosquito repellents for kids.
My son will be heading off to day camp later this month where he will swim, run, climb, and, quite possibly, be eaten alive by mosquitoes. Since I'm not too keen on him reapplying toxic chemicals all over himself midway through the day, I'm glad to have found a...
Free printable kids stationery. Since you’re already spending enough on camp as it is.
I'm all for splurging a bit on special camp stationery as my kids head off later this week (sniff), especially since it seems to compel them to use it more. But after about 25 cards or so -- wishful thinking, I know -- the costs add up. So I like the idea of...
10 of the most fun, most creative pool games for kids to play this summer beyond Marco Polo
If your aim is to get the kids to spend as much time in the pool as possible before summer ends, we've got you covered with 10 of the coolest, most creative pool games for toddlers to teens. Not only are these ideas a whole lot of fun, but they also help kids...
The ABCs of Game of Thrones: A is for Arya
Hi, my name is Liz and I'm obsessed with Game of Thrones. So I'm cheering that the show has earned 24 well-deserved Emmy nominations -- though oddly, no nods for comedy after that really bizarre Sandsnake fight scene in Dorne. In any case, while our children may be...
The cutest personalized baby shoes from top to bottom
We've always been big on recommending personalized gifts for people asking us for great baby gift ideas. Personalization makes any gift extra thoughtful, turns nearly anything into a keepsake, and it doesn't even have to cost a fortune. So my latest find to add to the...
9 fun, easy crafts using shells to remind the kids of your summer vacation
With temps in the high 90s and crazy humidity here, I'm really, really looking forward to the beach trip we have planned later this summer. So I've sought out lots of fun, easy DIY crafts using shells,which are an easy way for the kids to get creative and use up the...
A night light that says it all
The second I saw this Love You night light on Etsy, I thought it was the most perfect thing for about a zillion parents. For every child who wakes up in the middle of the night, trying to will themselves back to sleep, could anything be more comforting than both the...
Need an answer to I’m bored? How about 250 of them.
It may surprise readers of Cool Mom Tech, but I am pretty much a no-screens-in-the-car kind of a parent. Back when my youngest was still a toddler and four consecutive episodes of Dora meant a needed stretch of quiet. But now, unless it's an extra extra long car ride,...
How to keep your kids from forgetting their lunch boxes. Maybe? Hopefully?
When I saw the brand new Skip Hop Forget Me Not backpack and lunch bag sets earlier this year at Toy Fair, it was like an instant, I HAVE TO TELL PEOPLE ABOUT THIS. And now, at long last, they're available for purchase from their site, our affiliate Amazon, or indie...
SPAWNED Episode 7 (because we skipped 6): PANTIES. AGAIN.
We know, we know, we're talking about panties again on our latest SPAWNED with Kristen and Liz podcast episode. But this time, it's literal grown-up panties at the request of a listener, not metaphorical ones like we did a couple of weeks ago. We chat about whether...
Free printables for happy campers.
With my girls heading off to sleepaway camp in a few weeks, getting everything together has been definitely consuming many brain cells. And with a few of our writers in the same boat, that explains why you've been seeing recent posts here for awesome care package...
Treat House wins at camp care packages
As I sat online with Kristen, trying to figure out just what we will send our girls by way of care packages when they attend sleepaway camp together this summer (sniff) we got wind of the most awesome idea: Treat House creates delicious rice cereal bars, amped up with...
Some of our favorite camp stationery for kids: Here’s hoping they write to us.
When I was a kid at summer camp, mail time was always one of the best parts of my days. And I'd imagine now, a time when hardly any of us get actual personal snail mail at all, camp mail is an even more exciting ritual. So we've got some cool ideas to help arm...
Underoos! They’re baa-aaack.
I guess I've got super heroes on the brain, because first it was the Wonder Woman Havaianas that I found this past week, and now it's....wait for it...Underoos. Underoos! The same ones you may remember from your childhood. I had no idea they even still existed, did...
Handmade baby bath mitts that get you excited for baby bath time. Almost.
I admit that bathing my babies wasn't always my favorite thing. Well, it was fun when they were in great moods, but when they were tired and shrieking? I'd take all the help I could get. So I am totally taken with these adorably made, totally handmade woodland...
Little Passports has a new gift subscription that lets younger kids get in on the world travel adventures too.
Even before she had made her first trip out of the country, my daughter loved the subscription her aunt bought her to Little Passports when she was in grade school. Each month, she'd receive a packet of information and little trinkets about a new country that she...
3 of the best baby carriers for dads. Because dads are awesome baby-wearers too.
Around here, we've always rolled our eyes at people who refer to fathers watching their kids as "babysitting." Which means we also love companies who know that moms aren't the only ones doing the childrearing these days. From cool diaper bags for men (that, well, we...
The ultimate roundup of fun, affordable Minion birthday party ideas that you can actually do!
The Minions are coming! The Minions are coming! Today's premiere of the aptly titled Minions movie is bound to turn even more kids into fans of those yellow goofballs, meaning you may find yourself planning a Minion-themed birthday party for your own little...
Wonder Woman Havaianas: All the feet are waiting for you.
While searching around for a new pair of flip-flops for my kids, I came across shoes of supreme coolness: Wonder Woman Havaianas! Everyone's favorite affordable Brazilian flip-flops are now a colorful homage to the great Princess Diana of Themyscira and they come in...
Passing notes, old school style
I've been known to blow it up with rapid-fire text messages, but I still adore handwritten letters sent by snail mail. I'm also a child of the 80's who passed notes folded just like the ones pictured on these old school text note cards from laLa Grace on BRIKA. Kids,...
A temporary tattoo that keeps kids safe. Not just cool.
I always thought it was a clever idea to write your number on your young child's arm with a Sharpie, should you be hitting a beach or a theme park where there's even the slightest chance of getting lost. But I also know plenty of squirmy kids who do not want to have...