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
Meaningful Moments of Impact ›
Playworks Named 2018 Top-Rated Nonprofit ›
Social Entrepreneur Jill Vialet on “Positive Chaos” and Founding Playworks ›
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 important life skills. Learn about our impact ›
Stories
November 9, 2018
Challenges of a First Year Teacher ›
Kelly Darchuk, a third grade teacher at the Tobin K-8 School since the 2017-18 school year, talks about her challenges as a first year teacher. During my first year of teaching, I was challenged to deal…
November 9, 2018
Junior Coaches Lead by Example ›
During my time as a Playworks coach, there were many kids and experiences that touched my life, but none more so than a first grader Elijah. Elijah was new to the school, and at the beginning…
News
The Philadelphia Tribune
December 4, 2018
Chester A. Arthur student takes on leadership role through recess program ›
Ten-year-old Nafis Johnson has been developing and honing his leadership skills by contributing his time as a Junior Coach for Playworks Pennsylvania. The Playworks Junior Coach program gives selected fourth- and fifth-grade students the tools they need to navigate through school and life. “I’ve been a Junior Coach for Playworks for about a year and a…
IndyStar
November 29, 2018
Playworks and Jump IN for Healthy Kids ›
No more standing around. A new approach to recess keeps kids moving. Playworks, as well as partners Jump IN for Healthy Kids, aims to keep kids healthy and active in Indiana. Read the article and watch Jo Yocum, Playworks Indiana’s Executive Director, talk about safe and healthy play.
November 13, 2018
5 Ways to Make Your Playworks Recess a Success ›
In 2017, Playworks and the American Institutes for Research (AIR) partnered to learn more about how effective recess teams drive strong quality and recess outcomes. Close your eyes and picture the best recess you can imagine. What does that look like to you? A quality recess is one that is safe, engaging, and empowering. Play…
The Star-Ledger - NJ.com
November 9, 2018
Twenty Minutes of Recess for NJ Kids ›
A takeaway from a recent American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) clinical study review, which details the wide-ranging benefits of play for children. From the AAP, here are 20 reasons why those 20 minutes of recess are vital—and why the quality of that playtime is critical. (Stock photo via Pixabay)
