Playworks wants schools throughout Georgia have a place for every kid on the playground to belong, have fun and be part of the game. The national nonprofit is now partnering with Georgia SHAPE to make that happen.
Founded in 1996, Playworks uses school recess to provide healthy, safe and fun play and physical activity to schools around the country. By providing either a full-time coach or by training school staff who want to make the most out of recess time for students, Playworks provides a range of services that ultimately help teachers recapture valuable classroom time while also increasing the time kids spend being physically active and reducing disciplinary incidents that arise on the playground.
In May, Playworks launched its partnership with SHAPE,providing staff support and training to deliver its innovative recess model to more than 35,000 students at elementary schools across Georgia, thanks to the support of SHAPE partner, the Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation.Playworks’ recess initiative also contributes to SHAPE’s Power Up for 30, a program encouraging schools to add 30 minutes of additional physical activity in every school day.
Research shows a strong positive relationship between physical fitness and academic achievement. But it can also help schools address social and behavioral problems.A study conducted by Stanford University and Mathematica Policy Research found that Playworks schools have less bullying and exclusionary behavior; transitions from recess to learning activities are easier; students have better behavior and attention in class after participation in sports, games and play, and teachers at Playworks schools perceive students to be safer during recess and engage in more inclusive play.
Playworks training is open to any school in Georgia. To learn more, contact David Badillo ([email protected]) or visit www.playworks.org. You can also download a free Game Guide with hundreds of playground games and activities.
