It is my great joy to share that this year, for Giving Tuesday, we will be launching a new philanthropic initiative—one deeply rooted in the very heart of Only Little Once. Since our founding, our mission has always been to design clothing that creates core memories, honors family traditions, and offers timeless pieces that help busy parents slow down and cherish the magic of childhood while it still fills their homes.
More than a decade after founding this company at my kitchen table, we now know so much more about the incredible impact that dress-up and play therapy can have on children coping with PTSD and trauma. Groundbreaking research continues to reveal the significant role pretend play holds in helping children process fear, navigate medical procedures, and heal from crisis. (Resources are listed at the end of this letter.)
Our work with Make-A-Wish Michigan in previous years taught me that that leading children’s hospitals use play therapy and pretend play to deliver sensitive information to children. Specialized pediatric PTSD and trauma units are being built in our nations top hospitals. Why? A simple costume can soften fear, providing a safe, imaginative space for a child to process overwhelming information.
Pretend play supports children as they navigate tragedy—loss, illness, house fires, natural disasters, and more. As an entrepreneur, the ability to dream is a necessity. As a child who grew up without my biological mother, I have carried my own childhood trauma. So much of my healing occurred while designing products to help create magical memories in your home, because they allowed me to give missed opportunities and unrealized experiences as a gift to others.
And, so, as we enter a new year, it is my honor to announce a new chapter, which I have dreamed of for several years. We are launching a program to make Only Little Once costumes and products available as gifts to mental health professionals, nonprofit organizations, and families experiencing trauma, tragedy, or loss. Whether a child is facing a serious illness or a family has lost their home, we hope these gifts will help keep hope alive.
A portion of every purchase this Giving Tuesday will help stock our “Giving Closets,” which we will begin distributing in 2026. We look forward to sharing more details in the coming weeks—so stay tuned!
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for supporting my small business and for being part of this journey. Many blessings to you and yours.
XOXO,
Eden and the Only Little Once Team
P.S.- for those of you who have been with us since the beginning, here is a photo of me and my daughter Audrey, who was in 2nd grade when the company was founded! We will be introducing some of her designs this spring!
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9776711/
https://www.cmosc.org/trauma-informed-play-for-children/