Playworks a national nonprofit, has a different idea, which involves a holistic approach that seeks to change the environment of the school community to encourage academic success, social engagement and self-confidence by harnessing the power of play to transform children’s social and emotional health.

Through direct-service coaching and training, Playworks partners with elementary schools, districts and after-school programs to integrate games into recess to create a welcoming place for every child on the playground. With an emphasis on social-emotional learning and skill-building, students feel included while being active and developing valuable skills needed to thrive in the classroom and beyond. Playworks works to ensure that one million kids at 2,000 schools experience safe and healthy play every day in the 2017-2018 school year. Thus, to address the growing community problem of bullying, Playworks creates school climates where it is socially unpopular to bully others. And the concept is gaining traction.

A bill approved by the New Jersey State Senate is making recess mandatory for all elementary school students throughout the state. This means students will be guaranteed 20 minutes of play a day at the start of the 2018-2019 school year. However, Playworks recognizes that providing kids with time to play isn’t enough. Through direct service programs and professional development trainings, the nonprofit integrates social-emotional learning and skill-building into activities during recess. The organization places full-time coaches to facilitate activities in schools where 50 percent of the student population is considered high need. Personalized training is offered to faculty and staff in other schools to implement Playworks programming independently.

“The playground is where students can develop the social and emotional skills needed to communicate, collaborate, resolve conflicts and lead in a fun and engaging way,” said Kim McCall, executive director of Playworks New York/New Jersey. “At Playworks, we believe every kid deserves safe and engaging play at their elementary school, which is why we are working with educators to create sustainable environments where recess is a positive part of the school day.”

If the adage “there’s safety in numbers,” is true, perhaps the best way to stand up to bullying and make schools safer is to stand together. •

Sources: PDK Research Poll, Business Wire, Panish Shea & Boyle LLP, AP: The Conversation, The National Conference of State Legislatures, Playworks