The holidays are a beautiful season, but they can also bring a lot of pressure. Between planning, budgeting, family gatherings, school events, and trying to create magic for our children, parents often feel stretched thin. One of the biggest stressors is gift giving. Every year my list grows: my large family, neighbors and their children, colleagues, friends, and business partners. I always want to be prepared, because there is nothing worse than being caught off guard when someone gives you a gift and you have nothing in return.

As a mom, I want the season to feel special for my little ones. I obsess over the details, even down to using wrapping paper from “Santa” that cannot match the wrapping paper from mama. But when I walk through my daughter’s room, I see the reality. So many toys that are unused, forgotten, or piled up in baskets. It makes me think of the toys from Toy Story waiting in the cupboard for a chance to be played with. The guilt creeps in, and I find myself wondering what she truly needs this holiday season.

Even though I co-own Terra Play Center, an indoor playground focused on purposeful and open-ended play, I still feel the pressure to buy more toys. The advertisements are constant during the holidays. We are told our children need more, that the right toy will make their childhood magical, and that gifts equal love. But deep down, I know that is not what children really need.

Children need opportunities for open-ended play. They need experiences that support their development, spark their imagination, and strengthen brain connections. Their brains are constantly wiring and rewiring, especially during early childhood. When children are free to explore without strict instructions, they develop problem-solving skills, creativity, emotional regulation, and stronger memory pathways. Experiences stay with them far longer than any toy ever will.

When we think back to our own childhood, we rarely remember the toys. We remember the moments. We remember the time someone sat on the floor with us, played pretend, laughed with us, and made us feel important. That connection is what children crave most.

This holiday season, I am reminding myself that I am enough. What I give my child throughout the year matters more than any gift under the tree. We are all doing the best we can, and our children feel our love in the moments we slow down and connect with them.

And while experiences at places like Terra Play Center can add so much joy and meaning to a child’s life, the beauty is that meaningful memories can be created anywhere. The goal is connection, not perfection.

If you are looking for experience-based gifts that encourage connection and play, here are some ideas to consider:

Play together at home
Fifteen minutes of truly present play can mean more to a child than any toy. Let them choose the activity. Build a fort, create a story, pretend to run a café. When you follow their lead, you give them a powerful sense of confidence and belonging.

Visit a favorite park or nature trail
Unstructured outdoor play supports creativity, sensory development, and resilience. Even a short walk becomes an adventure in the eyes of a child.

Create a simple holiday or seasonal tradition
Bake together, pick a special ornament each year, watch a family movie in matching pajamas. Children thrive on rituals, and these recurring moments become deep emotional memories.

Schedule a connection day
Plan a day that is just for fun. It could be the library, a picnic, exploring somewhere new, or a visit to Terra Play. No agenda, no rushing—just time together.

And if you are looking for a space that encourages imaginative play, movement, sensory exploration, and meaningful connection, Terra Play Center is honored to be part of your child’s world.

Open Play Passes
Perfect for gifting moments of movement and discovery. Each visit offers something new and meaningful.

Monthly Memberships
Our monthly memberships are designed to support consistent connection and play throughout the year. Instead of a single moment that gets unwrapped and forgotten, a membership allows your child to explore, imagine, and learn month after month. It is not about giving more things. It is about giving your child ongoing opportunities to create memories, build confidence, and experience the joy of open-ended play.

Parties and Celebrations
A Terra Play birthday party creates unforgettable memories without the stress. We take care of the setup and cleanup so you can be fully present for your child’s special day.

The holidays should be about connection, presence, and creating moments that matter. More toys will not give our children a better childhood, but more shared experiences will. Whether it is at home, outdoors, or here at Terra Play Center, the greatest gift you can give your child is time, imagination, and togetherness.

Choose experiences this season. Choose memories. Choose connection. Terra Play Center is here to help you and your littles play with purpose.

With love,
Rebekah