Playworks New York and New Jersey

Playworks helps kids stay active and build valuable social and emotional skills through play.

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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.

Learn more about our impact

Latest News


January 10, 2023

Understanding the Complex Simplicities of Play ›

Play is a behavior that is natural and has existed for thousands of years and across species. It combines a set of made-up rules or norms and a willingness to explore. Researchers, scientists, and doctors have studied the effects of play on kids–and adults–and understand that this natural behavior has tremendous benefits. As the American…

December 21, 2022

Building Skill Through Play: Managing Disappointment and Teaching Positive Body Language ›

It’s the holiday season! Schools and Playworks are counting down the days until winter break, but first we’re focusing on managing disappointment and teaching positive body language.  We all know that it can be incredibly easy to get swept up in the negative emotions a disappointment brings because our expectations were not met. For kids,…

Patch

October 13, 2022

Todd Elementary School Gets a Recess Reboot ›

The entire Todd Elementary community – teachers, lunch monitors and students – are working towards building a better recess…the school recently hired Playworks, an organization creates a better recess experience by helping navigate conflict resolution, building students’ leadership skills and, ultimately, enhancing students’ academic success.

July 28, 2022

A year of social and emotional learning ›

“You can’t do SEL, trauma, or equity work without each other,” Jennette Claassen, Head of Evaluation, Playworks. As Playworks continued to progress on our equity journey, we explored a critical question: what are the intersections between play, social and emotional learning, physical activity, and trauma? A working group focused on this question decided, among other…

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Upcoming Events


The Game Plan graphic
The Game Plan graphic

April 05, 2023

Youth Leadership Empowerment ›

Unlock the leadership superpowers of your students. Join us as for the 4th and final webinar of The Game Plan, a free, four-part series designed to provide practical solutions for…

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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.

Contact Us


60 Park Place
Newark, NJ 07102

31 West 34th Street, Suite 7153
New York, NY 10001

t: 917.488.6760

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