Playworks

PlayWorks is so Wonderful. I wish every school could benefit from this program. Every kid I've talked to love the games that are played.

Playworks has brought the playing spirit back to our school. Our coach has connected to our students quickly and has supported us with all our needs. Thank you for being part of our behavior efforts!

Playworks is absolutely THE BEST training that we provide for our after school staff throughout the year. Our Youth Development Professionals use it each and every day in their program implementation. I cannot say enough about this great organization!

The work that Playworks does in collaboration with schools is AMAZING! The power of play is incredible to support critical skills - such as empathy, listening, and leadership - that kids need to thrive in school and life. The community educators at Playworks are an asset to any school or organization serving youth.

Playworks Tag Team with Boys & Girls Clubs of Indianapolis has been a wonderful addition to our organization, specifically at Sunny Heights Elementary School and Sunny Heights Boys & Girls Club! Helping our students and members learn about conflict resolution and actively apply it in fun, positives ways is so beneficial to the experience for our youth and staff in school at recess and after school at the Boys & Girls Club. It’s amazing to witness our youth focus on the fun in school at recess and after school at the Boys and Girls Club.

Great company culture, amazing mission, awesome staff.

I've been a committed donor and volunteer for Playworks for the past 8 years and knew them through my work before that. I believe so much in Playworks' mission and have appreciated how the organization has navigated change with flexibility, curiosity, and commitment to its mission. They are transparent with their donors, are committed to providing the highest quality services to kids, schools, and youth organizations, and their services are needed now more than ever. It is so important for kids to have the opportunity to play, especially as their school and home lives have been in flux throughout this pandemic. Playworks remains one of my top causes to support!

Playworks is an amazing non-profit that transforms play on the playground. Children are taught games that are inclusive, they have more games to choose from, and they learn how to play fairly with others. Playworks' also helps 4th and 5th grade students build leadership skills through the Junior Coach Program. 4th and 5th graders are taught how to lead games and to model positive play with the younger students on the playground.

Ever since Playworks started in Ferndale Schools recess has become a safe, inclusive atmosphere where kids help kids! The coaches and staff from Playworks always go above and beyond to ensure all students have the right to participate, play, and be a kid with a smile on their face! (Leaving the adults with smiles on their hearts!)

We need collaborative , inclusive community leaders. That's what Playworks does! Their junior coach program is amazing. Kids are trained to meaningfully contribute to their school community by being game leaders and culture keepers for younger students. They help their school have a great recess while they prepare to become our future leaders!

Playworks works -- and in the best possible way! Their programs and approach are based on the best research, insights and experience gleaned from the past 20 years on play, children's health, and social emotional development. And it shows. Indeed, research has proven that Playworks programs deliver major positive impacts for students, teachers and the schools that work with them, which is rare in this field. And, they accomplish this through play, which is the foundation of how kids grow and learn. Finally, they are easy to partner with and great fun to work with. Fantastic organization, and I highly recommend.

I have been associated with PLAYWORKS for 4 years as a school district administrator and for the last year as a Board member. As an organization, PLAYWORKS excels in executing their vision and mission to bring out the best in every child through play. We have data to show dramatic improvements in recess behavior as tracked through Office Disciplinary Referrals, and improved school wide behavior as measured by PBIS SET data. All students learn conflict resolution strategies in context, and the opportunities provided to Junior Coaches for leadership training are superior to any I have seen. The PLAYWORKS Executive Director leads this non-profit with passion and skill, and constantly seeks opportunities to grow the organization, build connections, expand services and include diverse groups. School-based Coaches (often Americorp personnel) are well-trained, well-supervised and very effective.

I was fortunate enough to see this amazing program in action for 2 years in Oakland in 2002. The staff and program changed the dynamic of the elementary school and the lives of the students. The students were eager for recess and learned lifelong conflict resolution skills.
Recess is often a time when students engage in negative behavior and this transfers throughout the rest of their school day. This can have a very powerful impact on their academic achievement.
I only wish Playworks was in the current school that I work in-we could really use their help!

I have seen the impact Playworks has on the playground and it's truly phenomenal. Their staff are upbeat and passionate about working with kids, and it translates into kids with good attitudes and lots of healthy physical activity. They're growing fast and smart. And I love how they figured out how to take something as simple as recess and made it such a gamechanger not only for the school day, but for kids' overall success.