Let’s Play Build Day in Camden. Photo credit: Kristin Wilkinson, Keenly Kristin
With the invention of computers, video games and smartphones, the world has become a different place. The lure of screen time has changed the way kids play and decreased the amount of physical activity in their daily routines. Research shows that rather than playing outside, kids spend an average of seven hours each day on “entertainment media” (such as TV, computers and phones).
A Solution: Dr Pepper Snapple Let’s Play
The Motherhood is proud to be working with Dr Pepper Snapple Group on its Let’s Play initiative to provide kids and families with the tools, places and inspiration to make active play a daily priority. Most recently, we’ve worked with bloggers to help publicize the program and build playgrounds in underserved communities in Camden, N.J., and Dallas, Texas.
Building Playgrounds
At Let’s Play Build Day in Camden on June 25, Kristin of Keenly Kristin was on hand to witness the excitement and positive energy of the Camden Children’s Garden construction zone. In a blog post she wrote afterward, she noted it would be the only playground in the city of Camden:
“No playground in Camden. Nowhere for kids to go, nowhere for them to engage in the most basic of childhood activities — play. KaBOOM! and Dr Pepper Snapple Group wanted to change that for the community, but especially for the kids. It would mean a lot, Gladis Zambrana said. ‘It means ‘the community’…it means the community cares. It means you’re wanted. It means ‘it’s mine.’ That’s what this means.'”
Kristin shared updates on the playground build in real time via social media that day, too:
In Dallas, Jamie of Roubinek Reality did the same at La Academia de Estrellas. She reported in her blog post about Build Day, “Many of the students’ families at La Academia de Estrellas are of low socio-economic status, but they are an active and collaborative bunch who pull together to bring their children unique opportunities that provide a holistic education. That was proven in the sheer number of volunteers they had to help with the playground build day. Volunteers came from all over, including Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Walmart, school employees, and the surrounding community.”
Maintaining Momentum
The Motherhood will be working with bloggers in Milwaukee, Los Angeles and Little Rock, Ark., to build playgrounds in those areas through the rest of the year. Keep an eye out for blog and social media posts around this important Let’s Play initiative from Maureen of Wisconsin Mommy, Yolanda of Sassy Mama in LA and Heather of Heather’s Dish to follow the campaign and learn more.
