Updates

Over the summer, our friends at Sport Oregon hosted an event called Medford2Medford. This long-standing running event attracts runners to put their endurance to the test and help fundraise for nonprofits of their choosing. It went virtual this year! 3,000 miles later and with the help of many generous supporters, Playworks PACNW received a check…

Play isn’t just fun and games – it’s a vital aspect of our health and well-being. When we play, we engage our bodies, minds, and senses, creating opportunities for increased physical activity, learning, and connection with others. Play can even help relieve stress and support the development of important social-emotional skills, including communication and cooperation.…

The play opportunity gap Play is critical for healthy child development as it is a safe way for kids to experiment and practice building relationships and cooperating with others. And yet, even in normal circumstances before COVID-19, there wasn’t an equal opportunity for every kid to play. We need to make sure this disparity does…

Rapport building is always key to a successful, engaging school year. When kids feel safe, empowered, and cared for, they are more likely to attend school, lean into their education, and develop critical social and emotional skills. This year, students around the country are going to school virtually, in-person with potential virtual experiences during COVID…

Playworks believes in a trauma-sensitive approach Educators should focus on providing a trauma-sensitive approach to the reopening of school. Students are all having different experiences right now. For some students, the shutdown of schools due to COVID has provided them with a welcome reprieve from toxic situations or stressors. For others, it has created an…

Playworks is helping schools continue to reimagine recess. For the past 24 years, Playworks has partnered with elementary schools to help kids stay active and build valuable social-emotional skills through play. As schools prepare re-opening plans, we want to help provide resources for implementing both in-school and virtual play or recess experiences. We developed Recess…

Explore your neighborhood in a new way. Summer trips may be closer to home this year, or might just include a lot of exploring your neighborhood. Simply taking a walk is not only great exercise but also a fun way to discover the little details that we all may overlook in the hustle and bustle…

Social-Emotional Skill of the Week: Decision Making & Problem Solving Responsible Decision Making is the ability to make good decisions. Resources for the Week of June 15, 2020 Game of the Day Challenge Are you ready to #PlayAtHome? We are challenging students and families to learn and play one new game each day! This week’s…

Social-Emotional Skill of the Week: Social Awareness & Perspective Taking Perspective-taking is the ability to see a situation from the viewpoint of another person–understanding their feelings, intentions, thoughts, or view of a particular situation. Resources for the Week of June 1, 2020 Game of the Day Challenge Are you ready to #PlayAtHome? We are challenging…