Testimonials
Here is what educators and youth program workers are saying about Playworks Training:
“I think the most valuable lesson Playworks staff offers is how to build an inclusive, organized, “let’s-get-moving” culture of play. They empower everyone with the vision and the resources to make incremental changes that begin to positively impact not just the recess culture, but the entire learning culture of a school.” -Kathryn Malý, Seattle
“The training was fabulous. Everyone who attended reported back to me that it was great information to walk away with and fun, because of all of the interactive activities/training tools that took place. Because of the great feedback, another Y program is looking to partner with Playworks in the near future.” – Takija, YMCA, San Francisco
Playworks Partners with Fall River School District
The Fall River School Department in the metro Boston area has signed on with Playworks Training to provide training and technical support for adults who supervise recess and physical activity. The training includes professional and paraprofessional staff, with the goal of promoting promotes positive play through the development of inclusive and collaborative play skills, game development and positive conflict resolution skills during recess sessions. The first training session was held in late January.
The Playworks curriculum is aimed at elementary school students and is intended to improve social and emotional skills all while encouraging physical activity during recess. “It moves away from adult-structured playtime and tries to develop play skills in the students,” district Wellness Coordinator Lisa Aguiar said. “These children need a little extra help with these skills because they’re not just coming outside to play like they used to.” It’s a troubling commentary perhaps, but schools — particularly those in urban settings — must adapt to changing needs and changing times in order to breed academic success.
