Everybody Plays!

"We’re all different. And we think that’s beautiful. Embracing the beauty of our differences can help promote acceptance and inclusion for all kids across the world. The Everybody Plays Campaign celebrates the unique faces, smiles and styles of babies and kids everywhere." ~Infantino  

I mean, what a concept, right? 

I remember hearing about this when they first started the "Everybody Plays" campaign and thinking to myself, "Why does this even have to be a 'campaign'? Why have they (meaning advertisers everywhere) not been doing this forever?" Babies, toddlers, and kids of all abilities play with toys. Let's celebrate that! 

So, they haven't been doing it forever, but the awesome folks at Infantino and Step 2 started their Everybody Plays campaign in 2011--which is awesome. Basically, they get a group of kids--some with special needs, some without--and let them loose with their new line of toys. Well-known photographer and blogger, Kelle Hampton (who just happens to also be the mom of a beautiful little girl with Down Syndrome) then photographs the kiddos. You can read her blog post about the last campaign she photographed HERE (it was actually photographed at a house right in our little city!) Anyhow, they then use the images for advertising purposes--packaging, social media, trade show booths, etc.

So here's the thing--each year, they have done a casting call for the photo shoot for the campaign. And the company is based here, in San Diego. I don't know why I haven't paid any attention to the casting calls before, but this year, I did. I submitted a photo of Curtis, along with 300 words (or less, ha!) describing how I teach self-acceptance and the acceptance of others within my family and/or in our community. That was it. I can't even remember what I wrote. Something about Curtis and about how we found out about his brain disorder and CP and how I've tried to teach my kids about him and other kids like him. About how I've tried to be more aware of kids (and adults) in the community with disabilities and how I'm trying to get my children to understand that everyone is different--to learn that sometimes the difference is something you can see, sometimes it's not. Gosh, I think that's what I wrote! If not, it was something similar. It was short and sweet. It had to be!

Long story short--they chose Curtis to be part of the shoot. Honestly, I couldn't believe it. I knew there would be a lot of submissions...and there were. Over 800 of them, I found out. Curtis was, I believe, one of about 50 kids that they chose to participate. I'm hoping it will be a fun experience. If anything, he will get a few hours of play time with some kids and a few new toys. I'm feeling pretty excited, and honored, that Curtis gets to be one of the 'poster children', if you will, for a campaign that I think is so cool.  

What do you think? Could he be the next big thing? :)

I kid, I kid. But he is a beauty, if I do say so myself...totally not biased or anything...