summer fun

Fireworks are at the top of nearly everybody's list of favorite Fourth of July memories, but capturing the magic in fireworks photos can be extremely tricky. So we scoured our favorite photography and tech resources for great photo tips …

As we mentioned on Cool Mom Picks , our team is off on a little break this week. Don't we all need one these days? (The answer is yes. Yes we do.) But hey, before we took off, we wanted to put together some of our very favorite summer te…

I know that a socially distanced summer -- with all the closures and cancellations it entails -- is pretty daunting to parents. Like, ahem, myself. But I've been encouraged to find that there are so many wonderful online resources availa…

Anyone else missing trips to your local movie theater? I know I am, which is why I've been researching the best home projectors for backyard movie nights, which seem to be the closest we're going to get to sitting in a theater anytime so…

This is a sponsored message from Relay So many parents want their kids to have the safety and security of a phone, especially over the summer when kids have a little more freedom, and a little more run-around-outside time. And yet, those…

Warning: you're about to seriously waste some time reliving your childhood. We've found the motherlode of retro computer games thanks to Classic Reload. They've collected and preserved more than 5,000 classic video games for future gener…

Captain's log: We are still digging out of the most recent Nor'Easter but to divert our attention to warmer climes, we've got our eye on this Star Trek captain's chair pool float . Related: 10 of the coolest pool floats the whole family …

My kids love writing and they love doing art, but sometimes they don't know what to do with that blank sheet of paper or the empty Procreate screen . (That's my manga-obsessed daughter's digital illustration iPad app of choice, by the wa…

These camps are so cool that you’ll want to be a kid again! Well maybe temporarily.

Summer is here, and that means a whole lot of bugs, and ways to try to prevent my kids from getting bitten by bugs. Thankfully, there are smart ways to use tech to keep mosquitos at bay around your home, or when you're on the road or cam…

After spending some time playing around with the new Polaroid Snaptouch ($179.99 from our affiliate Amazon ) that we were sent for review, I think it's a fun little camera for a family -- especially with road trips, summer camp, and more…

I'm a big proponent of changing phone cases to match the season, so when summer rolls around, I always swap out my more stylish case for one that's a little more utilitarian. With beach and pool visits a daily occurrence, that means a wa…

As vigilant as I am about applying (and reapplying) sunscreen on my kids and myself, it's inevitable that I missed a spot -- usually on myself -- and I'm left with a sunburn patch. But this new gadget could totally change that, and help …

The kids have been out of school for a bit and chances are you've heard the "bored" word at least once. Or maybe you have a toddler who is ready for a new activity approximately every three-and-a-half minutes. Either way, check out the f…

Of course tech innovations are making their way to the traditional BBQ now too, and if you don't have the space for an outdoor grill, I've found a solution in the Kenyon SilKEN Grill which keeps your grilling game on all year round. This…

When it's time to unplug the devices and hit the pool, lake, or ocean to cool off, I know my kids love stretching out and relaxing on a comfy pool float or raft while they talk to their friends. And, whoa, they would go nuts for any of t…

Preventing mosquitoes is one of my big concerns, especially this summer. Not only are they annoying and itchy, they carry some serious diseases that I don't want anywhere near my family. But I don't like the idea of spraying chemicals in…

Even with school out for summer, that doesn't mean learning has to go on vacation too. If you've got a computer-crazy kid who's interested in the creativity that comes from learning to code, there are so many great resources online. You …

The best part of hosting parties in the spring and summer is that everyone can be outside, so you don't have to do a full clean-up of your house the next day. But if you tend to rely on a big indoor sound system, you may not just be able…

Every summer I vow that we're going to do enriching activities to keep everyone's brain sharp, but then my resolve melts faster than ice cream on a hot day once we start enjoying the lazy, unscheduled days of summer. But, I've found a gr…

Ever since my husband showed the kids the GoPro videos he took while mountain biking, they've wanted to take the same kind of cool action videos, even if all they're doing is riding a scooter down the driveway. And since we're not so kee…

If a single BOOM from a nearby fireworks display sends your kids running to bury their heads in your lap, you may need kinder, gentler fireworks this Fourth of July. Like the ones found on this cute new fireworks app, Fireworks Lab , whi…

Before your next summer road trip or family barbeque, we have a little gift for your ears: Free kids' music! Ready to amp up those playlists? Then you have to check out these 10 Cool Mom Picks approved songs from some of our favorite kin…

With this being the first summer with our third baby, I have been thrown back into super vigilant mode when it comes to pool safety. While summer is coming to a close, we've still got quite a few weeks of hot swim weather left (and an up…