Services

Help students discover the joy of physical activity, build social and emotional skills, and come back to class ready to learn—all through play.

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Explore Our Services


Onsite Coaches

Create a culture of play before, during, and after school every day with a skilled Playworks Coach.

Playworks Coach

Consultative Support

Equip your recess team through support and modeling during the school day.

Playworks TeamUp

Recess Reboot

Playworks TagTeam for Youth Organizations

Staff Training

Sharpen play facilitation skills with professional development for your staff.

Playworks Pro for Schools

Playworks Pro for Youth Organizations

Online Learning

Experience the power of play with bite-sized online courses or subscribe to weekly, curated content.

PlayworksU

Keep Playing

Customize a Plan for Your School, District, or Youth Organization

Playworks helps you bring out the best in every kid through safe and healthy play.

Find the evidence-informed service that’s right for you.

We partner with schools to support play every day onsite, offsite, and remotely.

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Try On Our Strategies

Want to get a taste for our approach? Explore what’s working in schools across the country.

Resources

Our Outcomes

two girls playing on blacktop
two girls playing on blacktop

November 8, 2022

Play Contributes to Safe and Healthy Communities ›

Play is an essential part in building safe and healthy communities where children feel connected and invested in the world around them. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, “Play…

kids playing with basketballs
kids playing with basketballs

December 19, 2017

RAND Review: Playworks Stands Out Among SEL Interventions ›

A new review conducted by RAND Corporation and commissioned by The Wallace Foundation found that Playworks stands out among social and emotional learning (SEL) programs for evidence of impact. The…

May 10, 2017

How Canyons School District Improved Outcomes District-Wide With Playworks ›

When Utah introduced new state PE standards in 2015, Canyons knew they needed to act quickly. At the same time, they didn’t want to lose sight of their highest-priority strategies…

FAQ About Playworks' Service Options

What services does Playworks offer?

Playworks partners with schools with a wide variety of needs. Transform your school with a full-time Playworks coach, collaborate with an onsite Playworks recess expert to empower your playground team, or build capacity for positive play with Playworks professional development. Learn more about Playworks Coach, Playworks TeamUp, and Playworks Pro.

Do you work with middle schools or K-8 schools?

Playworks programming is designed for elementary schools. We do work with K-8 schools if the focus is on the lower grades.

Who are your staff? What are their qualifications?

Energetic, fun, and consistent are three words that capture Playworks coaches, site coordinators, and certified trainers. A common thread among our staff is a commitment to and passion for supporting the health and well-being of children. All coaches, site coordinators, and certified trainers come to Playworks with prior experience working with children and generally have worked within after-school programs, youth leagues and summer camps, or within other youth service agencies in the nonprofit sector.

Who is responsible for supervising the Playworks staff person?

Playworks is responsible for training and overseeing the work of each coach, site coordinator, and certified trainer. We assign each school site a program manager, whose role is to supervise and support coaches and site coordinators. Program managers are responsible for overseeing and maintaining program quality at each school site and serve as the primary contact person for school administrators.

How many staff are assigned to a school?

In the Playworks Coach service, one full-time, caring and consistent Playworks coach implements our entire program at each school.

With Playworks TeamUp, Playworks partners with elementary schools by providing a part-time on-site coordinator to teach, model, and empower a sustainable recess program.

Playworks Pro provides professional training and ongoing development to existing school staff, paraprofessionals, and after-school care providers to create and maintain a great recess and play environment throughout the school year.

 

What offsite and remote support is available to direct service schools?

We provide a number of opportunities for school staff and kids to experience distance learning, including:

  • Curation of Playworks resources: Site Coordinator will provide staff with guidance and support resources for virtual game implementation and self-directed play activities for students
  • Live “Virtual Play” Sessions: Site Coordinator will lead virtual CGT and JCLP sessions with students
  • Consultation Webinars: When in-person trainings are not possible, Playworks will provide school staff with professional development and support for in-person and distance learning play-based programming

Bring Playworks to Your School

Get in touch to bring Playworks to your school, district, or youth organization.

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