We love how #GivingTuesday has become such a widespread tradition across the US in just two years, and we've been thrilled to share some of our favorite ways to give back --on this day and any day. We love promoting our favorite charitie…
For those of us who love great illustration as much as a great story, I've found three new picture books that are worth making space for in your kids' bookcase or wrapping to give to a child this holiday. What I love most about all three…
This year my husband and I loaded everyone up (even the grandparents) for a long weekend over fall break, and flew to Chicago, one of my very favorite cities, in search of some awesome kid-friendly activities. Our focus: checking out all…
You know what's hard to find? Awesome Halloween apps for kids. So we've spent a good deal of time on Cool Mom Tech tracking down some of the very best ones apps you and your little ones, whether they prefer silly or spooky fun. Click ove…
We sat down in the theater to see The Book of Life movie, and as the lights dimmed, my nine-year-old daughter whispered, I have literally been waiting to see this since the day we saw the preview ! And indeed she had. After that many mon…
The Fids and Kamily Poll has been announcing the best kids music of the year for kids and families since 2006, and we're always so glad to be a part of it, along with other top bloggers, journalists, publicists and kids' music radio show…
I typically think of gingerbread houses as a Christmas tradition, but my family is usually so slammed with other activities then that we don't get around to it. So this year I'm thinking, why not build a candy house for the holiday that'…
I tend to think that making my kids' Halloween costumes is a great idea. I also tend to be wrong. Not only does it always take way much time than I have, but it can end up being every bit as expensive as buying something. My 9-year-old i…
Getting my kids involved with helping others has always been an extremely important part of parenting for me, and I've done my best to include them in my own charitable passions when I can. But after attending the recent Global Citizen F…
It hasn't yet snowed here in Colorado, but it's only a matter of time before the flurries fly and the birds are scrambling for food. Because I love to craft pretty things that are also useful, I've been looking for DIY bird feeders. I'm …
Playing a board game with the kids can be fun, but it's bound to feel a lot more special when your kids get to put their own finishing touches on the games themselves, like they can with DIY Board Games . And, don't worry: The "DIY" does…
Ever since a Cool Mom Picks editor forwarded me a link to the Creatiate Etsy shop devoted solely to cool handmade rubber stamps , I've been imagining the inky possibilities. These stamps are gorgeous--like I wish I could spend a week sta…
If your kids can't get enough of Laurie Berkner's music , they're going to eat up the news that she's coming to Sirius XM's Kids' Place Live this weekend--and throughout the year--to promote healthy eating. Oh, and play lots of tunes, to…
As the chill starts to hit the air and the sweaters come out from the back of the closet around here, that means it's almost time for DIY leaf crafts for kids. Or hey, maybe you've already started? (Hey, Minnesota!) While there's no shor…
I've been a huge fan (and friend) of Baby Loves Disco ever since I shook my groove thing at my first dance party with them back in 2006. Well, they're turning ten this year (10!), and they've got a slew of cool dance parties all around t…
It's not always easy for us to find a game for kids that is doable, yet challenging, and that the entire family can play. What can we say, we have high standards. However cool-game maker Blue Orange's new Doodle Quest is giving my family…
If you're like us and celebrating the unofficial end of summer and the start of school (whoo!) with some food and fun today, we rounded up a bunch of our favorite recipes that you can still whip up in time for your party or barbecue . He…
As this crazy summer winds down I'm really looking forward to returning to our town's library for after school hangs and rainy weekends. We're there often, but no matter how hard we try to keep track of those borrowed books they tend to …
Want your baby to be smarter? Maybe you've seen all the research that says to talk to her. A lot. Especially in those early months and years . And of course you know that - what is parenting these days if not an exercise in reading way t…
With all the United States National Parks for us to explore and enjoy with our families, there are probably certain ones that pop to mind first: Yosemite, Yellowstone, Acadia, Sequoia, the Grand Canyon. But if you haven't heard of Great …
My nephew isn't quite a year old yet, but his artistic parents sense that he is ready to express himself through finger paints--probably because of the messes he makes when left alone with a bowl of cereal. And while real paint isn't a g…
We've hit that sweltering time of summer when it feels like we're about to melt here in the south, so I'm pulling out my popsicle molds and making the desserts my kids beg for on really hot days. Even though the flavors of these gourmet …
Whether you're hosting a sleepover in your backyard under the stars, sending the kids off to summer camp, or packing up the camping gear and heading out on a family retreat in the car, make-your-own stories can be a fun, low-tech way to …
It can be a struggle to get kids to remember to wear their helmets, but when their bike safety gear looks as good as these cool bike helmets for kids--they're much more likely to use one. So since it's July, and in our house the Tour de …