Playworks

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Playworks Blog

After a summer of playing at camps or home, it’s time for children to prepare for school. How can we ensure children...
kid jumping

Why Play Matters

View studies on how play helps kids both in school and in their lives.

  • National Gallup Poll: Principals link recess to academic achievement

    The State of Play

    A new, first-of-its-kind Gallup poll reveals that elementary school principals overwhelmingly believe recess has a positive impact not only on the development of students’ social skills, but also on achievement and learning in the classroom.

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  • Recess improves behavior in the classroom.

    School Recess and Group Classroom Behavior

    Children in urban, low-income schools are less likely to have recess than students in other schools. Teachers cite improved behavior in the classroom when students have recess.

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  • The best opportunity to increase physical activity is at recess.

    Recess Rules!

    Recess is the single biggest opportunity to raise the level of physical activity for all children, yet those who come from minority or low-income families are being shortchanged when it comes to recess time.

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  • Best Practices for Supporting Play

    Play Matters

    In municipalities across America, engaged citizens and civic leaders are actively seeking innovative ways to improve the accessibility, quality, and quantity of play and play spaces for children. To help cities build awareness and develop a policy on play, KaBOOM! identified 12 relevant and innovative best practices in play. Playworks Baltimore is cited as one example. Read the full Play Matters report.

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  • Playworks’ schools report fewer fights on the playground.

    Ohrenberger Elementary School in Boston

    Playworks’ program increased student focus and participation in class, and principals and teachers reported fewer fights on the playground.

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We were right. Monday nights are just better with recess games, outdoor happy hours, and Playworks. About 50 people came out to eat delicious pizza, play 4-Square, and support Playworks Metro...

Where We Are

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For many elementary school principals, recess is the toughest part of the day. That's when all the trouble starts — the teasing, fighting, bullying, injuries, referrals and suspensions. This...

The Baltimore Sun visited Harlem Park Elementary in Baltimore to get in the game -- and see how things have changed since Playworks partnered with the school in 2008.

After talking to the principal, students and teachers, it was clear that safe, healthy playtime was making a positive difference in the school's learning environment. Principal Joyce Akintilo said it best:

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