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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!
    Alicia Betz
    May 26, 2023
    The Best Summer Toys for Kids of All Ages
    Including a few new toys that just hit the market!
    Alicia Betz
    Apr 29, 2023
    The Best Toy Shelves All Have One Thing in Common
    There's a reason we named our site after it.
    Alicia Betz
    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.
    Alicia Betz
    Mar 22, 2023
    I Looked For (and Found!) the Perfect Toddler Pillow
    It’s adjustable, comfortable, and will grow with your kid.
    Alicia Betz
    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.
    Alicia Betz
    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!
    Alicia Betz
    Mar 7, 2023
    I Tried 8 Baby Food and Kids’ Meal Delivery Services — Here Are the Best of the Bunch
    Of course, my kids were the testers.
    Alicia Betz
    Feb 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.
    Alicia Betz
    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!
    Alicia Betz
    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.
    Alicia Betz
    Jan 4, 2023
    The Genius Trick to Get Your Kids to Go to Sleep on Christmas Eve
    It's fun for the parents, too!
    Alicia Betz
    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.
    Alicia Betz
    Nov 2, 2022
    The Best Toys for 3-Year-Olds
    They all make great gifts, too!
    Alicia Betz
    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.
    Alicia Betz
    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!
    Alicia Betz
    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.
    Alicia Betz
    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.
    Alicia Betz
    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.
    Alicia Betz
    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.
    Alicia Betz
    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.
    Alicia Betz
    Oct 12, 2022
    The Best Toys for 5-Year-Olds
    25 gifts that are encourage fun and play! (And also make great gifts.)
    Alicia Betz
    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.
    Alicia Betz
    Aug 13, 2022
    I Love Baking With My Kids, and This Product Made It So Much Easier
    It is absolutely worth the money.
    Alicia Betz
    Aug 3, 2022
    The Best Toys for 2-Year-Olds
    Editor-approved favorites for two-year-old tots.
    Alicia Betz
    Jul 27, 2022
    This $20 Amazon Product is One of the Best Purchases I’ve Made for My Kid’s Room
    It solves a very common problem.
    Alicia Betz
    Jul 26, 2022
    The Best Toys for 1-Year-Olds
    The cutest (and most developmentally appropriate!) toys for the littlest tots.
    Alicia Betz
    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.
    Alicia Betz
    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.
    Alicia Betz
    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.
    Alicia Betz
    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.
    Alicia Betz
    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.
    Alicia Betz
    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!
    Alicia Betz
    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!
    Alicia Betz
    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.
    Alicia Betz
    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.
    Alicia Betz
    Oct 2, 2021