Alicia Betz

Alicia Betz is a freelance writer specializing in parenting and education. She researches and tests products from the hottest new toys to the most tried and true parenting products. She earned her bachelor of science degree in education from Penn State University with concentrations in English and communications. She earned her master of arts degree in education from Michigan State University with concentrations in literacy and technology. Alicia holds a certificate in literacy as well as online teaching and learning and is licensed to teach in Pennsylvania. She was a teacher for seven years and has been writing professionally since 2016. Alicia's writing has been featured in Scholastic, Brighter Higher Ed, Business Insider, Popsugar, AARP, Yahoo News, and more.
This “Digital Playroom” Is the Only Screen Time App I Feel Totally Fine Letting My Kids Use
It’s designed for open-ended, Montessori-inspired play — yes, on an iPad!
May 26, 2023
The Best Summer Toys for Kids of All Ages
Including a few new toys that just hit the market!
Apr 29, 2023
The Best Toy Shelves All Have One Thing in Common
There's a reason we named our site after it.
Apr 24, 2023
I Bought a Ruggable Rug After Seeing Ads All Over Social - Here's My Review
A kid-friendly, washable rug? After six months, I have thoughts.
Mar 22, 2023
I Looked For (and Found!) the Perfect Toddler Pillow
It’s adjustable, comfortable, and will grow with your kid.
Mar 21, 2023
I Can’t Believe I Had Kids for 4 Years Before I Got Around to Buying This
I made a major change in our bathroom.
Mar 15, 2023
I Found an Amazing Product for Babyproofing Outlets, but It’s Really for Anyone Who Wants to Hide Cords and Plugs
It made the area not only safer for my kids, but also completely decluttered the mess of cords!
Mar 7, 2023
The Easiest, Quickest Way I Prep a Pile of Bite-Sized Finger Foods for My Twins
My babies were too hungry to wait around for me to cut up food with a knife.
Feb 1, 2023
The Best Toy to Give a Kid On Their 1st Birthday
It's my go-to present for the 1st birthday, because I know it'll probably keep their interest long after that!
Jan 4, 2023
When Should I Stop Using a Baby Monitor in My Child’s Room?
At some point it may not be helpful anymore, for either you or your child.
Jan 4, 2023
The Genius Trick to Get Your Kids to Go to Sleep on Christmas Eve
It's fun for the parents, too!
Dec 13, 2022
This IKEA Activity Table is Surprisingly Sturdy and Has Built-In Storage
It's one of my favorite pieces I've ever found at IKEA.
Nov 2, 2022
The Best Toys for 3-Year-Olds
They all make great gifts, too!
Oct 31, 2022
The 20 Best Toys and Gifts from Fat Brain Toys
20 favorite picks from one of our go-to places for unique kids’ toys.
Oct 27, 2022
How to Set up A Toy Rotation System Even in A Small Space
If you’re short on storage space, you can still give toy rotation a try with these tips!
Oct 26, 2022
With 3 Kids Under 4, I Couldn’t Keep My Car Clean Until I Bought This $19 Product on Amazon
It may seem simple, but it's made our lives in the car so much better and more organized.
Oct 26, 2022
The Toys and Products I Used to Keep My 7-Month-Old Twins Entertained Over a 2-Day Road Trip
It was a long trip, but it worked well thanks to some key toy planning and purchasing.
Oct 20, 2022
I Tried 5 Stain Removers to Remove Baby Poop and Chocolate — These Are the Only Two I’ll Buy Again
I’ve tried a few different brands over the years, but I’ve always wondered if there was something better out there.
Oct 19, 2022
The Best Thing I Ever Did for My Daughter’s Sleep
I thought my preschooler would never sleep through the night, but amazingly, this helped.
Oct 12, 2022
Are Bunk Beds Safe? We Spoke to An Injury Researcher to Find Out
Bunk beds are wonderful space savers, and fun! But potential injuries? Not so much. Here's what to know to stay safe.
Oct 12, 2022
The Best Toys for 5-Year-Olds
25 gifts that are encourage fun and play! (And also make great gifts.)
Sep 7, 2022
Are Kids’ Couches Really Worth It? I Have The Flip, and Here’s My Review
Here's what I think after having it for a year.
Aug 13, 2022
I Love Baking With My Kids, and This Product Made It So Much Easier
It is absolutely worth the money.
Aug 3, 2022
The Best Toys for 2-Year-Olds
Editor-approved favorites for two-year-old tots.
Jul 27, 2022
The Best Toys for 1-Year-Olds
The cutest (and most developmentally appropriate!) toys for the littlest tots.
Jul 20, 2022
The Newest Kids Birthday Party Trend Is Actually a Great Idea — and It’s Cheap, Too!
I'm definitely keeping this one in mind.
Jun 27, 2022
The 9 Best Playgrounds in the Midwest
From accessible sensory gardens to actual dragon-and-castle themed spots, these are the most fun picks for littles to play.
Mar 21, 2022
23 of the Hottest New Toys for Spring
From a sensory bin to a rock climbing kit to a projector that can be used outdoors, we picked out toys and gadgets to match every interest and every age.
Mar 8, 2022
33 of the Coolest Play Kitchen Accessories
From free things you can upcycle all the way to mini sinks that actually work, these play accessories will give them hours of fun.
Nov 5, 2021
24 Totally Fun Art Gifts for Kids of Any Age
From doodle tiles to shrink art kits, these gifts are so unexpected that your tiny artists will think you are the coolest ever.
Oct 30, 2021
The Cool Aunt and Uncle’s Guide to Great Kid Gifts for Any Age
Want to be their very favorite? Try one of these fun new gifts!
Oct 26, 2021
26 of the Best Books Ever to Give Kids of All Ages
You're never too young or too old to be a reader. Here are our very favorite book gifts for kids of all ages!
Oct 13, 2021
20 Exciting New Science Gifts for Kids of All Ages
From home-grown volcanoes to experiments they can eat, these gifts will get your mini-scientist thrilled to learn.
Oct 9, 2021
22 Gifts for the Tech-Loving Kid
From cool new gaming systems to robots that teach them the basics of coding, these fun toys give them access to age-appropriate tech skills.
Oct 2, 2021