Playworks Minnesota

Playworks helps kids stay active and build valuable social and emotional skills through play.

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About

All kids deserve the social, emotional, and physical benefits of play. We help schools and youth programs create healthy play environments where every child can join in.

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Latest News


KARE11

June 2, 2023

Recess with a purpose | Beloved guest educator specializes in ‘social play’ ›

Coach Travis Evans is reintroducing kids to skills disrupted because of the pandemic…A program specialist for nonprofit Playworks, Evans shows classrooms how to play games that get more challenging each round. Visits last 30 minutes and occur during class time so that students are able to implement what they’ve learned during recess and other play times.

July 28, 2022

A year of social and emotional learning ›

“You can’t do SEL, trauma, or equity work without each other,” Jennette Claassen, Head of Evaluation, Playworks. As Playworks continued to progress on our equity journey, we explored a critical question: what are the intersections between play, social and emotional learning, physical activity, and trauma? A working group focused on this question decided, among other…

August 24, 2021

Playworks Founder Jill Vialet Publishes ‘Why Play Works’ ›

Play brings out the best in every kid. Over the course of 25 years since Jill Vialet founded Playworks, she and her colleagues, as well as researchers and play experts, have demonstrated precisely how and why play works to help kids learn and grow in the most positive and healthy ways. Jill gathered stories from people…

March 25, 2021

Top 6 Games to Play Physically Distant with No Equipment ›

As more and more schools transition back to in-person learning, we know educators are looking for games that are physically-distant and don’t require equipment. The need for play is more important than ever due to the isolation that our kids have endured during COVID-19. Play encourages creativity, flexibility, teamwork, and other critical social skills. We’ve…

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A Better Recess


Instead of going back to class energized and ready to learn after recess, kids often return upset and unable to focus. We can change this. At a great recess:

Kids are at their best

Kids bring out the best in themselves and each other. They learn the value of fair play, compassion, and respect. They practice key social and emotional skills.

Kids become leaders

They run their own games and settle their disputes quickly (we recommend rock, paper, scissors) because getting along is more fun than fighting.

Kids choose to be active

When all students are included and all students know how to play popular games, every child has the opportunity to discover the joy of active play.

Contact Us


2135 Ford Pkwy
Suite #8210
St. Paul, MN 55116

t: 651.207.5285
f: 952.314.7003

    

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