Johnson’s Baby encourages parents to protect the joy of play. Find out how their celebrity mombassador, Bianca Gonzalez uses play to make her kids feel loved and secure during these uncertain times.
What can you read in this article?
- Bianca Gonzalez’s favorite bonding activity with her kids
- Using play as a tool for learning and character building
- How Bianca protects the power of play for her kids during this pandemic
As moms, there’s nothing else we want more than to raise healthy and happy kids. We also want to teach them character. We find teachable moments in our everyday lives to instill in them valuable lessons that they can use growing up.
Now that we’re experiencing a pandemic and navigating through the “new normal,” we also want our children to adapt and to learn, and we want them to have fun while doing it.
For accomplished TV host and celebrity mom Bianca Gonzalez-Intal, the best way to do this is through play.
How Bianca discovered play-based learning
Image from Bianca Gonzalez-Intal’s Instagram account
Bianca revealed that when she became a mom, and as she talked to other moms and child experts at work. She realized how important play is when it comes to a child’s early development.
“I used to think that ‘play’ was a ‘leisure’ activity. When I became a mom and the more I researched and interviewed other moms and experts, the more I learned that for babies, toddlers, and young kids, PLAY is LEARNING.
So much of their brain connections, coordination, imagination, creativity, problem solving, and more—is developed through play. This totally changed the way I saw playtime that it isn’t just a ‘fun’ thing, that it is really essential,” she shared.
The celebrity mom also believes that playing helps strengthen her children’s character and foster creativity.
“The more we encourage our kids to use their imagination, to build, to color, to run and jump, the more they’ll learn to be confident, to be creative, to create their own joy,” she said.
Because of this, it was easy for her to get on board when Johnson’s Baby tapped her to be one of the mombassadors for their “Protect the Joy of Play campaign.”
Bianca Gonzalez kids. | Image from Bianca Gonzalez-Intal’s Instagram account
“That is why I love and really believe in this Johnsons campaign on Protecting The Joy Of Play. It’s so essential to provide that time and space for our kids to play, even at home.”
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Bianca Gonzales on protecting the joy of play for her kids
In fact, she shared that most of her kids’ (Lucia, 5, and Carmen, 2) day revolves around playing. Even with her eldest already in online classes, they still make sure that she gets a lot of time for play.
Image from Bianca Gonzalez-Intal’s Instagram account
“Honestly, majority of my daughters day is spent playing. For Lucia, as soon as she wakes up, it’s breakfast time, then off to online class. She finishes a bit before lunch and we finish all the offline activities she has to do for school. After lunch is just pure playtime.” shared Bianca. “Then there’s even more play time over dinner, then all the way until bath time, it’s play time with the bubbles of Johnson’s Active Fresh Wash and Johnson’s Strong and Healthy Shampoo. They can’t get enough of bubbles I swear!” the celebrity mom added.
Bianca shared that the pandemic had a tremendous effect on her daughter Lucia’s routine and socialization.
“Lucia used to be able to play with other kids in the park every single day, visit friends and play in their houses, and even go to those play centers in the mall where there are giant slides and ball pits.
In the park, she learned how to wait her turn, in friends houses she knew how to play nicely with others, in the play centers she was able to face her fears and overcome them.
With play being restricted to our homes and at most, a walk around the village, there are many moments they are missing out on but we try our best to still teach them the lessons they usually learn with playing pre-pandemic,” said Bianca.
Like most moms, Bianca found a way to protect the joy of play for her child by being more present. Now that she’s home most of the time, she makes sure to play with her daughters when there’s no work. What’s their favorite activity?
Image from Bianca Gonzalez-Intal’s Instagram account
“Too many to mention! There is drawing and coloring, reading story books, playing with costumes (they call it ‘costume party’) and making DIY costumes when needed, make-believe play, and many more!”
To allow them to experience the fun she had when she was a kid. Bianca still let her kids play outside while observing the protocols.
“We play outside on the street and I make sure Lucia stays fresh for up to 12 hours with Johnson’s Active Fresh powder!”
Play as a stress-reliever and character builder
Image from Bianca Gonzalez-Intal’s Instagram account
While playing has so many benefits to children, no one can argue that it also helps us, parents, in strengthening our bond with our kids. And now during difficult times, playing with our kids and seeing them happy make us forget our worries even for a little while.
“I think for us parents, playing with our kids is such a welcome break and stress reliever. Any parent knows that the sound of your child’s laughter is the best sound in the world,” shared Bianca. “And honestly, with how stressful things can get for us parents, even a little daily playtime with our kids will help protect our mental health, too,” she added.
Together with Johnson’s Baby, Bianca Gonzalez encourages other parents to protect the joy of play for their kids. Her final message to other moms and dads:
“This is a very difficult time as parents, balancing working and keeping our family healthy and happy. I think play is the ultimate tool we as parents can use to help our kids feel a sense of normalcy in these not-so-normal times. We have to protect the joy of play and let our kids enjoy being kids.”