About
All kids deserve the social, emotional, and physical benefits of play. We help schools and youth programs create healthy play environments where every child can join in.
Kids CAN succeed through play! Be the one to show them they can!
Playworks Indiana will serve 44,500 kids in 89 schools and organizations during the 2019-2020 school year and the demand for our services continues to grow. Seeded by a launch gift from Kaleidoscope Youth Center, the Campaign for Play is an initiative to raise $220,000 in new donations in 2020 allowing us to make the investment necessary to ensure all kids have the opportunity to engage in safe, healthy, inclusive play every day!
Latest News
September 3, 2020
How Equity, Trauma, and Play Intersect ›
The play opportunity gap Play is critical for healthy child development as it is a safe way for kids to experiment and practice building relationships and cooperating with others. And yet, even in normal circumstances before COVID-19, there wasn’t an equal opportunity for every kid to play. We need to make sure this disparity does…
August 14, 2020
Playful Ways to Build Relationships in 2020 ›
Rapport building is always key to a successful, engaging school year. When kids feel safe, empowered, and cared for, they are more likely to attend school, lean into their education, and develop critical social and emotional skills. This year, students around the country are going to school virtually, in-person with potential virtual experiences during COVID…
July 17, 2020
Prioritize a trauma-sensitive approach for the 2020-21 school year ›
Playworks believes in a trauma-sensitive approach Educators should focus on providing a trauma-sensitive approach to the reopening of school. Students are all having different experiences right now. For some students, the shutdown of schools due to COVID has provided them with a welcome reprieve from toxic situations or stressors. For others, it has created an…
July 16, 2020
Safe Return to Play & Recess Guidelines ›
Playworks is helping schools continue to reimagine recess. For the past 24 years, Playworks has partnered with elementary schools to help kids stay active and build valuable social-emotional skills through play. As schools prepare re-opening plans, we want to help provide resources for implementing both in-school and virtual play or recess experiences. We developed Recess…
Upcoming Events
Let’s Play For a Generation of Impact ›
How can play help kids develop, practice social and emotional skills, and get physically active in virtual or hybrid environments or in-person experiences that are COVID-19 safe? Find out by…
A Better Recess
Instead of going back to class energized and ready to learn after recess, kids often return upset and unable to focus. We can change this. At a great recess:
Kids are at their best
Kids bring out the best in themselves and each other. They learn the value of fair play, compassion, and respect. They practice key social and emotional skills.
Kids become leaders
They run their own games and settle their disputes quickly (we recommend rock, paper, scissors) because getting along is more fun than fighting.
Kids choose to be active
When all students are included and all students know how to play popular games, every child has the opportunity to discover the joy of active play.
