Tips from the Founder of Playdate
11.21.2025
We’re teaming up with Carissa Zadwarny, founder of Playdate, the community built for parents and kids, to talk all things holiday survival. With school breaks, endless energy, and lots of togetherness, the holidays can be magical—and also a little… chaotic.
To help families gear up for the season, we’re hosting a Holiday Hang at ROW DTLA on November 29, and before we kick things off, we asked Carissa to share her best real-life tips, tricks, and relatable moments for navigating the holidays with kids.
ROW: What’s one funny or chaotic moment from past holiday seasons that perfectly sums up what it’s like having kids home from school?
Carissa: Oh man, every year it gets sweeter and a little easier as my kids get older. I remember a couple years ago, I was excited about the Christmas Eve outfits I got for them. I really wanted to get them dressed, get pictures and do the whole thing. They were both having tantrums on and off that day, I think one was teething too. The outfits ended up making everything worse, and lasted maybe 10 minutes. We laughed it off and now we just stick to pajamas on holidays that we spend at home anyway. Having kids really is just a lesson in letting go.
ROW: What small daily rituals, routines, or “anchors” help you keep everyone grounded during the holiday break?
Carissa: By day 3 or 4 we’re all usually pretty thrown off and craving structure again. We make sure to simplify our routine as much as possible but try our best to keep bedtime consistent. A story before bed is wind down time and they both really look forward to it. That and if the day was extra crazy, a popsicle bath usually does the trick.
ROW: What independent-play activities do your kids love that don’t require screens—or constant supervision?
Carissa: Magna tiles forever. They also love floor puzzles (and so do I!). Rock painting requires a little more set up but is always a great one, fort building, riding their bikes/scooters, and they both love playing dress up. My five year old, Otis, is really into Legos at the moment and my 3 year old, Jones, loves playing “diner” and taking our orders. I really love their ages right now.
ROW: Any Playdate-inspired ideas parents can recreate at home?
Carissa: We usually trial all of our art activities at home before they become craft tables at our events and my kids love it. One that we always go back to is open-ended sensory play with Whoa-Dough. They get really into it. It’s very easy to clean up, and is a great calming activity when we both need chill time.
ROW: The holidays can feel like pressure season. What simple traditions or easy wins do you swear by that still feel special for kids?
Carissa: It’s a lot on parents for sure and I try to really focus on keeping our calendar light and not overbooking or overcommitting. We go to Christmas Tree Lane in the valley every year, grab hot cocoa before and walk around the neighborhood looking at all the “jollies” (the kids nickname for Christmas lights). They have a blast and look forward to it every year. It’s a really low key outing for all of us and one of the most memorable too. It reminds me that the simple traditions really hit.
ROW: How do you encourage parents to take the pressure off?
Carissa: It’s hard. The only thing that works for me is having zero expectations whatsoever. One thing my kids love to do together, especially during the holidays, is baking. It’s hectic and messy and I used to have such a hard time with it. Once I started letting it be what it was, it became so much more fun for all of us. Embracing the mess and all that comes with it is the only way to remain sane. I carried that over to other areas too and it has really helped.
ROW: What would you tell parents heading into the holiday season who may already be feeling overwhelmed?
Carissa: For me, trying to feel less overwhelmed makes it worse and more stressful. Truly just embracing that it’s a chaotic, busy and full of life season really helps to take the pressure off, which is where most of those feelings stem from. Also, just knowing that all parents are experiencing some version of it is truly so comforting.
ROW: Anything you’re especially excited about for the Holiday Hang on November 29?
Carissa: So many things! We really wanted to bring a nostalgic vibe to the whole event starting with the music. The holidays felt extra special in the 90s (or maybe millennial parents just remember it that way). I’m really excited to see all of the special holiday crafts in action. I know the kids are going to love seed planting at Weiser Family Farms. Our letters to Santa station with High Tide is going to have all the elements to make the letters feel really special, and the Playdate mailbox drop is going to be really cute to finish it off. ROW DTLA is the perfect setting for a gathering like this and it’s going to be such a time. Truly can’t wait!
The holidays will always bring a mix of wonder, noise, and sweet chaos—and hearing from Carissa is a reminder that it doesn’t have to be perfect to be meaningful. If you’re craving community, creativity, or simply a festive afternoon that doesn’t require overplanning, join us at the Holiday Hang on November 29. ROW DTLA, Playdate, and our tenants are coming together to create a day that feels special, simple, and full of heart. See you there!