Summer has a funny way of making tweens simultaneously bored and too busy. If you're looking for an activity that gets them off their screens, teaches a real-life skill, and just happens to end with warm cookies, King Arthur Baking is ha…
We've tested our fair share of pool toys in our neighborhood pools over the years, and here's our verdict: Funboy actually lives up to the hype. The designs are playful without feeling over-the-top, the quality is noticeably better than …
Summer is short, which is exactly why we refuse to waste it on boring pool floats. If your backyard pool, lake day, or beach vacation could use a little extra personality, Funboy is here to make sure your summer looks as good as it feels…
From the court to the trails, Goodr sunglasses will provide the protection you want this summer at a price you love.
Summer shopping at Target is practically a seasonal sport. You walk in for sunscreen and leave with a new dress , outdoor entertaining essentials , a chic water bottle , and somehow three throw pillows you definitely didn't plan to buy. …
School's out, and it's time for you to put together your summer reading list alongside your kids. This year’s fiction lineup is delivering exactly what we want: sharp women, messy relationships, glamorous (and really un-glamorous) proble…
Planning a family trip to Italy sounds just about perfect—until you realize how tough it is to find a destination that works for both the kids and your sanity . Real luxury is finding a hotel that handles the details, so you can spend le…
I am what you'd call a camp evangelist, especially after seeing all the ways summer camp has helped my kids grow. And I've had a long time to be able to see that growth -- our youngest is about to finish her ninth (!) year at the same ca…
When looking to send the last of the summer camp care package gifts to my kids this season, I stumbled across these natural bug bite patches that get great reviews. I bought the single pack of 27 Quitch Bug Bite Itch Relief Patches and m…
If you're looking for a fun new outdoor toy for summer, we have plenty of backyard swings and water toys to check out. And now there's one more: This giant Connect Four game (technically, "Four in a Row Connect Game") that's been spotted…
This is a terrific time to find some cool backyard water toys for the kids, because they're all on sale, and let's be honest, we're all feeling the heat this summer. Back in 2020 we first shared our favorite backyard water toys when we w…
It's that time of year: Camp clothes shopping! Or more accurately, the time of year I look at the kids' camp clothing checklist and realize we have outgrown everything and gah, where am I going to get those non-itchy navy shorts again at…
While some of our daughters are rocking the teeny bikini that are back this summer, others are more interested in athletic two-piece swimsuits that let them be as active in the pool or on the beach as they'd like. As it turns out, it's a…
Hooray, it's Monday! Which also means... v Visit the Cool Mom Picks Deals Page for our favorite deals we've tracked down from our favorite brands. From the big stores we all shop, to the indie companies we love supporting. You'll find de…
From summer beauty and style , to outdoor entertaining, family travel, beach time, kids' toys and more -- we've got you covered with 30 incredible Amazon deals, discounts, and offers. Our deals team scoured Amazon to find lots of great d…
You've got to admit, it helps motivate the kids to get outside and active when you have cool backyard swings for them to play with. My own kids have all enjoyed hanging out on some new swings we've installed to update the old swing set. …
It was time for us to bring back some solid tips for staying in a hotel with toddlers, babies or even older kids. Because this week, we all started seeing this "TikTok hotel hacks" article going around and sheesh! It seems the article wa…
One of my favorite things about taking my son to swim lessons is seeing all the fun swim googles for kids that have become so popular over the last few years. Eyelashes goggles! Rhinestone goggles! Shark's teeth goggles ! Sequined goggle…
When I send care packages to my boys at summer camp, I generally include snacks and silly toys for them to goof around with. And in Liz's post packed with the best ideas for summer camp care packages , she talks a lot about sending fun b…
While 4th of July is a time to celebrate freedom and the best of America, lately I know so many of us are having a hard time feeling celebratory. It’s hard to feel like waving a flag when many of our rights are under attack right now, in…
Lanyards are a summer camp mainstay -- remember making them back in the day? But like so many things from our own childhoods, these knotted summer crafts have only gotten way cooler. Lanyards (also called scoubidous, scoobies, boondoggle…
With the final unofficial days of summer so close (wah!), we've got one more long weekend to milk the most out of the late sunsets with the family. So we're bringing back this post from a few years back, when our editor Liz offered up 10…
This week we're doing something I don't think our team has done in 15+ years -- we are taking a full staff summer break . (Whoo!) Some of us are traveling , some of us are hanging with the kids, some of us are counting the seconds to Ted…
So many parents are looking for fresh ideas for screen-free activities for kids now that we finally turned a corner. I know I'm not the only parent with kids whose screen time increased significantly over the quarantine . It was their pr…