Improve Outcomes for Pacific NW Kids through Play

Yesterday, we celebrated as the 2016-17 Cohort of 480 Junior Coaches graduated!

The Junior Coach peer mentorship program, one of four components of Playworks programming, focuses on increasing self-confidence, leadership, and conflict resolution skills in 4th and 5th grade students. These upper class students, known as “Junior Coaches”, serve as peer leaders for their classmates and the younger children. Junior Coaches teach games to their classmates and to younger students and, just as important, they model positive language, positive culture, and conflict resolution techniques for the other kids. It is not uncommon on a Playworks playground to hear a 1st, 2nd or 3rd grader say, “I want one of those purple t-shirts,” a reference to the Playworks purple t-shirts worn by Junior Coaches across the country. Younger kids always look up to older kids, and having positive, friendly older kids on the playground and around the school campus is valuable to improving the entire school climate for every student.  

Within the Junior Coach cohort, kids are given exercises on conflict resolution and other topics to complete as a team. By thinking and talking within the group and in subgroups, Junior Coaches mentor each other. On the playground, Playworks coaches often assign Junior Coach pairs to teach games, coordinate equipment check-out -- with 200 kids coming onto the playground at once, this task requires strong coordination -- lead cheers and other tasks. It can be intimidating to lead certain tasks alone; working with a supportive teammate builds confidence and respect.

Junior Coach Victoria from Beach Elementary School in Portland shares what she learned this year:

"I have learned to be active and hard working. I also learned to lend a helping hand if someone is struggling."

Links:

• Read more updates on our Playworks Blog!
• Join us June 23rd for Coporate Kickball