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 ›
October is Anti-Bully Month and Real Players Don't Bully ›
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 6, 2018
Empowering Kids to be Courageous ›
Eric is a kindergarten student who rarely chose to play at recess. He was pleasant and talkative with teachers and recess staff, but was hesitant to interact with classmates. One day, Eric came to recess carrying…
November 7, 2018
Bringing Out the Kindness from Within ›
When I first arrived at my school as the new Playworks Coach, I found that many students came to school tired and cranky, and were quick to fight, swear, cheat, and lie during recess games. However,…
News
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 | New Jersey Newspaper - 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)
November 8, 2018
“We Play Together” Mounds View Event ›
We had so much fun seeing everyone playing Freeze Tag at the Mounds View High School stadium at our “We Play Together” Event. Thank you to Mounds View Public Schools for this fantastic partnership. Seven hundred people came together for a giant game of Freeze Tag. We also welcomed the newest cohort of Junior Coaches…
Harvard Magazine
November 2, 2018
Social Entrepreneur Jill Vialet on “Positive Chaos” and Founding Playworks ›
Jill Vialet is founder and CEO of Playworks, a nonprofit that partners with schools to promote exercise and social and emotional health through recess. With nearly 700 employees in 23 offices around the country, Playworks expects to reach 1.25 million children at 2,500 elementary schools this year—the majority from low-income families and neighborhoods. Photograph by Eric Kayne
Events
#SpreadCheer Challenge ›
Between November 15 and December 15, Playworks has the opportunity to obtain a $25,000 grant as part of AEG’s #SpreadCheer campaign. The process is fun and simple! Visit this link,…
