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
Oregon State University Study Finds High-Quality Recess Positively Impacts Student Behaviors ›
December 3, 2019 is Giving Tuesday ›
Playworks Recruits Playful Professionals with LinkedIn For Nonprofits ›
Playworks Near You
California
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187,548
Kids Reached in California in the last year
District of Columbia
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Kids Reached in the Mid-Atlantic Region in the last year
Maryland
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Kids Reached in the Mid-Atlantic Region in the last year
Massachusetts
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Kids Reached in New England in the last year
New Hampshire
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Kids Reached in New England in the last year
New Jersey
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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
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Kids Reached in the Pacific Northwest in the last year
Pennsylvania
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Kids Reached in Pennsylvania in the last year
Rhode Island
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Kids Reached in New England in the last year
Virginia
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Kids Reached in the Mid-Atlantic Region in the last year
Washington
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Kids Reached in the Pacific Northwest in the last year
West Virginia
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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
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…
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
December 5, 2019
Make the Most of Indoor Recess ›
By the time winter break comes, many schools have had more indoor recess than planned. Even if some students are accustomed to snow and frigid temperatures, the weather can sometimes still prevent outdoor play. Educators feel the effect of being confined to indoor recess just like their students, but they know play is important for…
December 4, 2019
Oregon State University Study Finds High-Quality Recess Positively Impacts Student Behaviors ›
A recent study by the Oregon State University College of Public Health and Human Services found that high-quality recess contributes to the executive function, emotional self-control, resilience, and positive classroom behavior in elementary school children. While past studies explored the benefits related to the amount of recess time, this is the first study to address…
December 2, 2019
December 3, 2019 is Giving Tuesday ›
It is Giving Tuesday, and we need your support now more than ever. Kids in our community deserve to feel supported throughout their childhood. Teachers tell us that Playworks’ language of “good job” and “nice try” create the kind of positive experience their students desperately need on the playground. You can count on seeing kids…
Edsurge.com
November 20, 2019
Rethinking Recess Leads to Results On and Off the Playground ›
At first glance, it looks like your standard recess at Eliza Chappell Elementary School. But upon closer inspection, what is happening outside during recess is in fact rather unusual. Every student is occupied with one activity or another—even those on the jungle gym. The games are clear, organized and inclusive. And a specially trained coach…
