Bellevue School District features Playworks in Washington State

  1. Updates

The power of play has made a seriously positive impact on schools in the Bellevue School District.

Located just east of Seattle, Bellevue contracted Playworks trainers to lead professional development programs for the whole district. As a result, they have already seen marked improvement in positive behavior on and off the playground. Discipline referrals have been cut in half and older students have become "Game Leaders" who help younger kids stay engaged during recess.

Playworks has helped shift school climate so much that the Bellevue School District touted the success of the program in this article published on their website [click to read].

This progress was reported by the local news in this story about the effects Playworks has had on recess.

More Updates


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…

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February 4, 2022

Believe in Me Foundation Visits with Playworks ›

Julie Wukelic, from the Believe in Me Foundation for Kids, visited with our ED Asia Wisecarver and SC Paige Evans last week. Playworks PacNW was recently rewarded with a $5,000 grant from the foundation. This grant will allow us to continue our work with schools in the Spokane area. We look forward to working with…

August 24, 2021

Playworks Founder Jill Vialet Publishes ‘Why Play Works’ ›

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…