Happier schools

  1. Updates
  2. Building Community
  3. Happy Kids

Using play to develop students’ social skills and improve positive school culture

Happy schools support student learning. In order to create happy schools, we must consider how to create an environment where kids want to attend, participate, and succeed. By focusing on improving recess, Playworks is able to do just that.

“Playworks has enabled us to have more laughter and less fear, more players and less spectators, more encouragement and less put-downs, more order and less chaos, and more confidence and less uncertainty. Above all, Playworks has brought us less frowns and more smiles,” said Principal Michael Aaronian at Lupine Hills Elementary School in California.

A study, conducted by researchers at Stanford University, found that Playworks led to a fundamental positive shift in community building in just one school year. The study also noted that a positive atmosphere has been linked to a host of favorable student outcomes, from attendance to achievement.

Playworks strengthens the skill development of children by including and engaging every child in play. Our programming also restores valuable teaching time and increases physical activity, contributing to an environment that is conducive for youth to thrive.

More Updates


November 3, 2026

Investing in Attendance: How a Principal and a District Fund Play ›

Key takeaways: Belonging drives attendance. Chronic absenteeism at Chittick Elementary fell from 30% to 25% in one year, and Westside Union’s attendance rate reached 96.3%. Existing dollars can fund play,…

October 22, 2026

How Paying Attention to Recess Improves Student Attendance, and How to Fund It ›

Key Takeaways Belonging drives attendance. Kids show up where they feel they belong, and recess is where every kid can find it. A great recess has… Known games, simple norms,…

September 22, 2026

How Play Teaches Kids and Adults to Use Good Judgement ›

Any time kids play, they make dozens of small judgment calls they may not even notice. Sometimes this looks like settling a disputed call with rock, paper, scissors instead of…