For more than 20 years, I’ve been a digital storyteller, sharing moments, memories, and family fun across many platforms. For the past 16 years, I’ve built a community of families who trust me to help them create the perpetual “best day ever” for their children. Through my work as the founder of Indy with Kids, as a published author of two family travel books, and as a weekly television contributor highlighting experiences, destinations, and, of course, the best toys and games for families, I’ve spent my career exploring how play connects us.

That’s what led me 16 years ago to my first visit to the Chicago Toy & Game Fair. Back then, I was a new mom with an infant in tow, curious to see what the fair was all about. What I found was a wonderland of creativity and imagination that has become one of my favorite events of the year. I’ve returned to CHITAG many years, first pushing a stroller through the aisles, then chasing toddlers, and now exploring with four kids who are old enough to run ahead, ask their own questions, and fully dive into the world of play.

When I think back over the years, what stands out most isn’t just the new toys we’ve discovered, it’s the moments of connection that happen through play. At the Chicago Toy & Game Fair, my kids have learned that toys aren’t just things you buy; they’re ideas, stories, and dreams brought to life.

One of our earliest memories is from the year the fair featured a giant replica of the Soggy Doggy game, a massive version of the board game’s star pup that shook off and sprayed water as kids laughed and squealed. My oldest still remembers that one. There was something pure about it: simple, silly fun that captured exactly what play should be.

But for every over-the-top activation, there have been just as many quiet, magical moments. Like the year we found a small table covered with little trains (Railcube), no marketing banners, no flashing lights. Just tracks, trains, and a handful of kids taking turns building rails and letting the trains traverse them. We spent hours there, watching strangers’ children become friends over shared imagination.

Over the years, we’ve seen and played with just about everything: giant rockets that launch into the air, hands-on STEM exhibits where my kids could tinker and build, and high-energy tournaments where whole groups of families jumped into new games together. But the part that keeps us coming back is the human side of it all, the inventors sitting behind the tables, teaching their games to anyone who stops by.

There’s something incredibly special about seeing a creator explain their own game rules, watching a spark of pride in their eyes when kids “get it,” and seeing my own children’s curiosity ignite. That personal connection between inventors and players is what makes this event unlike anything else. My kids have learned that every toy starts with an idea, and that some of those ideas come from people not much older than they are.

Now that my children are older, they’ve started taking an even more active role in the experience. They walk the aisles with notebooks, interviewing inventors, taking photos, and recording videos for our social media and website. It’s become a tradition within a tradition, a family project that blends my world of content creation with their growing curiosity and creativity. The fair has inspired them to think beyond play, to see how design, storytelling, and innovation come together in the world of toys and games.

Every year, I find myself drawn to different things, too. As a digital content creator, I’m fascinated by the evolution of how the toy industry connects with families. Sixteen years ago, the fair was all about in-person discovery and print catalogs. Today, social media storytelling, influencer partnerships, and livestreamed demos bring those same moments of joy to millions of people online. Still, the in-person connection at the Chicago Toy & Game Fair remains unmatched. It’s one of the few places where families, inventors, and industry professionals come together in the same space, united by play.

I often tell other parents that this event is the best kind of “market research.” It’s where you can see which toys captivate your child and which ones lose their attention after two minutes. I get a front-row seat to how kids interact with new products in real time. As a content creator, that’s invaluable insight; as a mom, it’s a weekend full of laughter, curiosity, and joy.

Some years, I’ve arrived as part of the media, camera in hand, ready to capture the magic for my audience. Other years, I’ve shown up just as a mom, Dr. Pepper in one hand, kids in the wagon, ready to make memories. Every time, I leave with the same feeling: grateful that events like this exist…not just for toy companies, but for families like mine who still believe in the power of play.

Now, as the event expands into People of Play’s new Wishlist Weekend, it feels full circle. My little family that once played for a full day with Playfoam on a folding table has grown into a team of storytellers, testers, and toy lovers. We’re still playing, still laughing, and still discovering something new every single time.

Sixteen years ago, I walked into the Chicago Toy & Game Fair as a new mom, looking for something fun to do with my baby. Today, I walk in as a professional storyteller, an industry partner, and a mom of four who still finds joy in every aisle. For me, the fair isn’t just a place to see what’s next in toys and games; it’s a reminder that play never goes out of style.