Playworks Newark took part in the launch of Brick City SERVES (Newark's Comprehensive Service Plan). Mayors Booker and Bloomberg were welcomed to Broadway Elementary School while several Playworks Broadway junior coaches, teachers, and volunteers played a variety of recess games to showcase the Playworks program. Playworks Newark is working closely with Brick City SERVES on a new initiative called Lets Move! “Play Nights”. Together with Brick City SERVES, Playworks Newark hopes to build on the spirit of service that already exists in Newark by expanding volunteers involved in play. The goal is to serve 4,000 students and engage 200 volunteers during and after-school time.
Playworks Newark and Brick City SERVES Partner Together
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,…
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…