Playtime with Tamera Mowry & Her Son Aden

From Tamera Mowry

As any parent knows, the act of juggling day-to-day family and work life is never easy. On any given day, Adam and I are balancing the responsibilities of our careers, caring for Aden, and finding quality time for ourselves, our relationship and our friends. It’s a busy schedule for sure! Yet, through all of this, one other “to-do” that we make a point of scheduling is family playtime.

Recent research by KaBOOM!, the national non-profit dedicated to helping kids thrive through balanced and active playful lives, finds that while 90 percent of parents and caregivers agree that playing outside is very important for kids, this awareness does not always translate into action. This isn’t surprising considering the responsibilities and distractions of our daily lives.

Thankfully, I learned at an early age that making active play a priority is important. Growing up, my mom was always adamant that we go outside to play, and I really think this helped shape me, not just physically, but also socially and emotionally. I want to instill the same active lifestyle into Aden. That’s why I was thrilled when BAND-AID^® Brand Adhesive Bandages and NEOSPORIN^® Brand approached me about joining them for their new Play On™ campaign to raise awareness about the importance of play while being prepared with first-aid essentials.

I’ve even built my own first-aid kit to ensure my family incorporates play into our lives while staying safe and prepared. I’ve always been a big fan of the brands’ products – the NEOSPORIN^® NEO TO GO!^® Spray is always in my bag (for me) and BAND-AID^® Brand Adhesive Bandages featuring Jake and the Never Land Pirates (for Aden), so this was a perfect fit! Together, we are reminding parents about the benefits of play and providing tips on easy ways you can be equipped for play — from using your imagination, to bringing back an old-school game like hopscotch, to making sure you have first aid essentials on hand for any cuts or scrapes that may happen.
 
With this campaign, BAND-AID^® Brand Adhesive Bandages and NEOSPORIN^® Brand are working with KaBOOM! to not only encourage active play, but to ensure that families nationwide have the tools to get out there and tackle new adventures.  Here’s how they’re making a difference:  

• Donating first-aid products to play spaces in need across the country
• Contributing to new play spaces in 2015 by providing Rigamajig grants (cool, right?)
• Sharing tips on how to stay prepared for the inevitable bumps, bruises, cuts and scrapes that happen every day -- whether building a backyard fort, making arts and crafts, or playing sports (baseball is becoming a popular one for us, no surprise there!)

 
This summer and beyond, I hope you’ll join me on a movement to lead more active, safe and playful lives.