Playworks helps kids to stay active and build valuable life skills through play
What a Better Recess Does
Conflict Resolution
Recess doesn’t have to be chaotic. At a better recess, kids acquire tools to work out disagreements and differences.
Leadership Skills
When they’re playing amongst their peers, kids have a valuable opportunity to develop a sense of fairness, confidence, and communication.
Academic Success
Kids who are engaged during recess are more likely to participate in class, which means better attendance and better grades.
Updates
How schools can approach recess in the 2020 school year ›
How can principals incorporate COVID-19 lessons into recess next school year? 1. Teach games that allow for physical distance. Educators can/should intentionally plan recesses that enable kids to play while meeting expectations for social or physical distance. 2. Prepare for virtual game facilitation. Kids can continue to have access to play during the school day…
Work Play Balance powered by Playworks ›
Find your Work Play Balance. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the lives of children and adults alike. Playworks is continuing to share the power of play by launching Play at Home for kids and our brand new Work Play Balance playbook for adults. Work Play Balance is a playbook designed to leverage play to engage…
#PlayAtHome with Playworks ›
Playworks Near You
California
Connect with the Playworks team in Northern California and Southern California.
334,652
Kids Reached in California in the last year
District of Columbia
Connect with the Playworks team in the Mid-Atlantic region.
Kids Reached in the Mid-Atlantic Region in the last year
Maryland
Connect with the Playworks team in the Mid-Atlantic region.
Kids Reached in the Mid-Atlantic Region in the last year
Massachusetts
Connect with the Playworks team in New England.
Kids Reached in New England in the last year
New Hampshire
Connect with the Playworks team in New England.
Kids Reached in New England in the last year
New Jersey
Connect with the Playworks team in New Jersey.
Kids Reached in New Jersey in the last year
North Carolina
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Kids Reached in North Carolina in the last year
Oregon
Connect with the Playworks team in the Pacific Northwest.
Kids Reached in the Pacific Northwest in the last year
Pennsylvania
Connect with the Playworks team in Pennsylvania.
Kids Reached in Pennsylvania in the last year
Rhode Island
Connect with the Playworks team in New England.
Kids Reached in New England in the last year
Virginia
Connect with the Playworks team in the Mid-Atlantic region.
Kids Reached in the Mid-Atlantic Region in the last year
Washington
Connect with the Playworks team in the Pacific Northwest.
Kids Reached in the Pacific Northwest in the last year
West Virginia
Connect with the Playworks team in the Mid-Atlantic region.
Kids Reached in the Mid-Atlantic Region in the last year
3.5 Million
Children reacheD in 7,000 Schools
Playworks is aiming to ensure 3.5 million children experience safe, healthy play every day. Click on your state to explore what Playworks is doing near you.
Elementary students with strong social and emotional skills are . . .
Recess is a natural learning lab for important life skills. Learn about our impact ›
Stories
May 15, 2020
Recess is Necessary ›
Researchers agree: it’s important to prioritize recess in how schools approach re-opening. The research community has come together to establish the Global Recess Alliance in an effort to bring attention to the essential role of recess…
April 26, 2019
Stories from the Playground: Coach Hoops ›
It’s not every day that a Playworks #AmeriCorps Coach is honored by the Los Angeles Lakers, complete with a basketball clinic hosted by legendary forward A.C. Green. Then again, being treated to a center court awards…
News
June 1, 2020
An Open Letter to Our Communities ›
To our valued community members, partners, boards, and teams, Playworks is mourning and protesting the unjust killing of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minnesota last week alongside all of you. We all know this is only one in an untold number of black men and women who have suffered racist treatment by…
May 27, 2020
Play At Home: Week of June 1, 2020 ›
Social-Emotional Skill of the Week: Social Awareness & Perspective Taking Perspective-taking is the ability to see a situation from the viewpoint of another person–understanding their feelings, intentions, thoughts, or view of a particular situation. Resources for the Week of June 1, 2020 Game of the Day Challenge Are you ready to #PlayAtHome? We are challenging…
May 20, 2020
Play At Home: Week of May 25, 2020 ›
Social-Emotional Skill of the Week: Social Awareness Social awareness is the ability to empathize with and understand the perspective of someone else, even though their background and culture might be different from yours. Resources for the Week of May 25, 2020 Game of the Day Challenge Are you ready to #PlayAtHome? We are challenging students…
May 19, 2020
The New Balance Foundation Teams Up with Playworks to Help Kids Stay Active During COVID-19 Crisis ›
The New Balance Foundation is excited to announce a $100,000 grant to support Playworks’ Play At Home, a suite of digital resources designed to ensure all children have access to physical activity, social and emotional learning, and play during this prolonged period of out-of-school time. For over 24 years, Playworks has worked with elementary schools…
Events
Let’s Play For a Generation of Impact ›
We have decided to postpone Let’s Play to a later date. Playworks is mourning and protesting the unjust killing of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minnesota last…
