For more than twenty years, Playworks has been increasing access to safe, healthy play. This project contributes to the wider conversation on education in the U.S. by creating greater awareness of the importance of play and recess in schools. With your help, we aim to provide 3.5 million kids in 7,000 elementary schools access to safe and healthy play by 2023.
We live in extraordinary times. We struggle to make sense of the catastrophes, threats, and conflicts we see at a distance and up close. Sometimes, we even forget that we have a real capacity to impact what happens in our own communities. We may not be able to stop natural disasters or political strife, but together we can make sure all children know what it feels like to be part of a healthy, caring community-at school, every day, starting with recess.
New research suggests that the relationships we build between students and adults on the playground are a "preventative factor," buffering children against adverse experiences. Playworks provides a caring, consistent adult to teach traditional recess games, simple conflict resolution tools, and the joy of physical activity. Playworks empowers teachers and administrators to integrate these tools throughout the day, creating a positive school environment where kids are engaged and want to learn.
Scientific data confirms that learning cooperative play, conflict resolution, and healthy lifestyles early on are building blocks for success to help build a constructive community. Playworks Pacific Northwest currently benefits 12,600 kids daily in 28 low-income schools, and with your support, we plan to reach thousands more in the region.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
