Playworks Founder Jill Vialet Publishes ‘Why Play Works’

  1. Updates

Play brings out the best in every kid.

Over the course of 25 years since Jill Vialet founded Playworks, she and her colleagues, as well as researchers and play experts, have demonstrated precisely how and why play works to help kids learn and grow in the most positive and healthy ways.

Jill gathered stories from people who have worked with Playworks to identify the 20 small steps that lead to big change.

In her new book Why Play Works, you’ll hear their stories, understand the changes made through play, and learn what you need to know to create a similar impact.

 

 

 

ORDER YOUR COPY ON AMAZON

Order your copy on Bookshop.org



Interested in having Jill attend your employee engagement event?

Jill will be participating in remote and in-person events, facilitating discussions and leading play-based activities.  Contact us

 

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…