OAKLAND, Calif. – Playworks has launched SparkPlay, a subscription-based online educational resource to support lifelong learning of safe and healthy play for school and youth development staff. The virtual tool draws on Playworks’ nearly 30 years of playground experience to teach staff, schools and community organizations how to enhance recess to bring out the best in every child through play. sparking new ideas to keep them engaged.
SparkPlay provides teachers and youth development staff with guided learning paths on topics such as group management, game facilitation, and game systems. It uses evidence-based best practices, Practical tips and fun game ideas to teach the fundamental elements of a well-run gaming experience. The learning tool provides on-demand access to games, best practices, curated weekly emails, and tips anytime, anywhere.
“A positive playtime experience helps young people develop critical social, physical and emotional skills,” says Elizabeth Cushing, CEO of Playworks, the leading national nonprofit harnessing the power of play to transform physical well-being and emotional of children. “By opening our playbook online through SparkPlay, we hope to inspire adults around the world – teachers, after-school staff, families – to help children build relationships and develop important life skills through play.” »
Playworks partners with elementary schools, districts and community organizations to support every child – and adult – through play through programmatic services, coaching, consultation and resources. With a focus on skill development, students feel included while being active and developing the valuable skills needed to thrive in and outside the classroom.
The national nonprofit organization works to make play an integral part of a child’s day, at school and beyond. Cultivating a culture of connection, its externally validated programs provide protective factors to support children’s mental well-being while promoting resilience, youth action, teamwork and cooperation on and off the playground, having a positive impact on children, staff and the school culture as a whole.
SparkPlay subscriptions include multiple guided learning paths, a searchable resource library with the best Playworks tips and tricks to enhance playtime, an extensive game collection, a community and discussion space to share challenges and connect with other educators, plus weekly emails with new games and Brain Breaks.
To learn more about SparkPlay, visit: www.playworks.org/services/sparkplay.
About PlayWorks
Playworks is the leading national nonprofit harnessing the power of play to transform children’s physical and emotional well-being. The organization aims to bring out the best in every child and hopes that one day, every child in America will be able to play every day. For over 25 years, Playworks has improved children’s experience at school and strengthened school culture by creating a caring and welcoming environment for every child to thrive. Through direct coaching of youth and providing training and consultation to adults working with children, Playworks partners with elementary schools, districts, and community organizations to provide youth development games and practices. With a focus on developing social, physical, and emotional skills, students feel included while being active and developing valuable skills needed to thrive in and out of the classroom. During the 2024-2025 school year, the nonprofit organization is ensuring that more than 600,000 young people across more than 1,300 schools and community partners can play safely and healthy during and through beyond the school day across the country. For more information, visit: www.playworks.org.
