Culturelle® Gets Serious About Play

CROMWELL, Conn., Sept. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- More than just a classroom break: studies show that providing kids access to unstructured, outdoor playtime offers crucial benefits to their cognitive, emotional, and physical health development.¹ Despite this, most school-aged children in the United States don't meet federal health guidelines for exercise.² With that in mind, Culturelle^® Kids is bringing outdoor play back to the schoolyard with its Project Playground initiative, a nationwide search** for one school in need of a brand-new playground launching September 15, 2017.

To support the Project Playground program, the probiotic brand most recommended by pediatricians^† has joined forces with KaBOOM!, the national non-profit dedicated to giving all kids the childhood they deserve through great, safe places to play. From September 15, 2017 to November 15, 2017, schools, parents and administrators across the country are invited to enter their school for a chance to win a new playground by completing a brief application on Culturelle.com.

"Project Playground is an extension of Culturelle^® Kids' core values to help keep kids healthy, to keep kids feeling like kids," stated Nicole Bourdeau, senior brand manager for Culturelle^® Kids. "We are thrilled to invest in Project Playground because we see it as an investment in our communities and our kids' futures."

Beyond the physical health benefits, research suggests there is a positive connection between physical fitness and academic performance.³

According to Pediatrician and child health expert Dr. Jennifer Trachtenberg^, unstructured outdoor play aids children's behavioral development and social skills as well. "Navigating playground equipment during unstructured play is important because it helps teach children social norms, such as learning to take turns amongst their peers," she says. "Getting kids outside and running around is an important component of whole-child wellness. Outdoor play offers the added benefit of adding fresh air and sunshine to physical activity, which is a powerful way to help them maintain a healthy immune system."

On February 15, 2018, a month-long voting sweepstakes will begin, with the public invited to vote for their favorite of five finalist schools and enter to win prizes of their own in the process. The winning school will be announced in April 2018.

To enter or for a full list of entry guidelines visit https://www.culturelle.com/ProjectPlayground.

About Culturelle^® Probiotics
Culturelle^® is a leading national probiotic brand focused on supporting the digestive and immune health of American families.* ^††† Its portfolio of products covers the needs of families from children to adults. It contains 100% Lactobacillus GG, the most clinically studied probiotic strain≈, which has been demonstrated to restore the natural balance of "good" bacteria in the digestive tract to help alleviate occasional digestive distress as well as support the body's natural defenses.*

About KaBOOM!
KaBOOM! is the national non-profit dedicated to giving all kids – particularly those growing up in poverty in America – the childhood they deserve filled with balanced and active play, so they can thrive. Since 1996, KaBOOM! has collaborated with partners to build, open, or improve more than 16,700 playgrounds, engaged more than one million volunteers, and served 8.5 million kids. KaBOOM! creates great places to play, inspires communities to promote and support play, and works to drive the national discussion about the importance of play in fostering healthy and productive lives. To learn why #playmatters and why cities are embracing #playability: visit kaboom.org or join the conversation at twitter.com/kaboom or facebook.com/kaboom.

^† Based on a 2017 survey among pediatricians recommending a probiotic brand.
^ Dr. Trachtenberg is a paid spokesperson for Culturelle^®.
≈Based on the number of Lactobacillus GG clinical studies, as of May 2017.
^††† Based on: Nielsen xAOC 52 weeks ending May 13, 2017.
Culturelle® is a trademark of DSM.
**Excludes Alaska and Hawaii

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

¹The Crucial Role of Recess in School.
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/131/1/183
² Losing Fat, Gaining Brain Power, on the Playground.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/16/magazine/losing-fat-gaining-brain-power-on-the-playground.html?_r=0
³The Summer Gain: Kids Appear to Bulk Up in the Summer.
http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/06/12/study-finds-significant-weight-gain-for-children-on-summer-vacation

SOURCE Culturelle