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A sad fact is that our kids don't know how to play anymore especially children living in low-income households. Many are un able to play outside simply because it is just too dangerous and the alternative seems to be "plugging in". As a result, children are left with out the capability to build important social skills needed to be successful in all areas of life.

Playworks, a national nonprofit new to Portland provides safe, healthy play and physical activity to low-income schools, helping create a positive environment for learning and teaching. Our recipe for rescuing recess (which many schools have eliminated or reduced) and making play a part of every day has transformed more than 170 schools across the country. We put trained adults in school and on the playground full-time to introduce classic games that are disappearing from schoolyards, like kickball and four-square, as well as new games designed to build leadership, foster teamwork and sportsmanship. We also run after school programs, Jr. Coach training and developmental sports leagues that extend our opportunity for kids to gain more physical activity and learn fundamental social skills. When Playworks partners with a school, not only are kids more physically active, they return to class ready to learn and the whole school day goes better. It's amazing how Playworks improves the entire school climate, in almost a blink of an eye by simply by re-introducing kids to something as fundamental as play.

We are cuently operating in 9 PPS schools check out this link to the KATU two part piece "before & after" about our organization (only a few minutes each):
http://playworksusa.org/make-recess-count/play/power-play-portland

Play on!

posted 3 years, 1 month ago
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