Playworks helps kids to stay active and build valuable social and emotional 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
Straight Up Conversation with Jill Vialet ›
Introducing Playworks' Six Principles of Play ›
Playworks is Hiring AmeriCorps coaches ›
Playworks Near You
California
Connect with the Playworks team in Northern California and Southern California.
187,548
Kids Reached in California in the last year
District of Columbia
Connect with the Playworks team in Washington, D.C.
Kids Reached in Greater Washington d.c. 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
Connect with the Playworks team in North Carolina.
Kids Reached in North Carolina in the last year
Oregon
Connect with the Playworks team in the Pacific Northwest.
Kids served in the Pacific Northwest in the last year
Pennsylvania
Connect with the Playworks team in Pennsylvania.
Kids served in Pennsylvania in the last year
Rhode Island
Connect with the Playworks team in New England.
Kids served in New England in the last year
Washington
Connect with the Playworks team in the Pacific Northwest.
Kids Reached in the Pacific Northwest in the last year
3.5 Million
Children reached by December 2020
Playworks aims for 3.5 million children in 7,000 schools to experience safe, healthy play every day by 2020. 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 social and emotional skills. Learn about our impact ›
Stories
July 27, 2017
Why Kids Like Clinton Need Mentors ›
Last year I had a student, Clinton, who was pretty challenging. He was constantly being put on the fence by his teachers because of something he did in class or at lunch. He could be disrespectful…
February 3, 2016
Not-So-Junior Coach Matthew ›
When Playworks—then Sports4Kids—coach Max Langaard arrived at Manzanita school, Matthew Bailey was a shy third-grader. At home, he’d try to stay out of everyone’s way, and at school, he rarely spoke up during class. But Coach Max saw him…
News
June 7, 2018
Want to Build a Better Recess? Researchers Have a Framework for You ›
Amid mounting evidence that recess can help support student learning, health, and social skills, researchers are taking a closer look at what a “high quality” recess looks like. “We can’t fully understand the relationship between recess and learning, physical activity, other things until we understand the quality of recess,” said William Massey, an assistant professor of health…
April 25, 2018
Billions Institute Alumni Profile: Elizabeth Cushing ›
Playworks President Elizabeth Cushing is profiled in an interview in the Billions Institute. As president, Elizabeth leads the senior management team and is responsible for ensuring that all strategic targets are met across the organization.
March 30, 2018
How to Create a Culture of Play and Why You Should ›
How do you build a playful work culture where employees are engaged and effective? Our founder Jill Vialet authored this article to showcase some easy steps that business leaders can try within their organizations.
March 16, 2018
PlayworksU: Online Learning for Play ›
After a year of hard work, playful trial and error, and generous feedback from teachers and principals, we are happy to announce PlayworksU! Courses are available to preview through June 1; school subscriptions will be available starting August 1. These new online courses and videos from Playworks are designed to reinforce in-person training and help you…
