Layout 5-3 - Playworks

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Sports4Kids
champions play.
Since 1996, Sports4Kids has been organizing,
leading, and teaching play-based physical
activities in low-income schools. In these
environments Sports4Kids transforms chaos
and dysfunction into organized fun. The
result is permanent and powerful change in
children’s health and well being – every day.
PLAY IS TRANSFORMING CHILDREN
When Sports4Kids first arrives at a school,
our Site Coordinator often faces a disorganized
playground. Children either are struggling
to start games or choose to physically
remove themselves from uninviting confusion.
Recess is unsatisfying for both groups
of children.
With Sports4Kids on-site Monday through
Friday, things quickly change. Our Site
Coordinator integrates the transformative
power of play into the whole day – before,
during and after school. These “playground
heroes” teach kids tools such as rock-paperscissors
to resolve conflicts and keep games
going. After a few weeks of daily encouragement
and game instruction we see significant
changes in the children. Those who previously
stood on the sidelines have been infected by
contagious enthusiasm.
Children quickly become physically active
in an organized and safe way. They become
noticeably confident as they take on leadership
roles and learn problem-solving, selfdiscipline
and respect for themselves and
others.
As a result the playground becomes positive
and energetic. And kids aren’t the only ones
who feel it.
PLAY IS TRANSFORMING
CLASSROOMS
Ask any teacher at a Sports4Kids school
about the change on the playground, and
they will enthusiastically describe the transformation
within the learning environment.
With the involvement of Sports4Kids, the
post-recess classroom is filled with children
who are responding to being active in many
positive ways. Detentions and disruptive
behaviors are reduced, and students return to
the classroom ready to learn. Children once
agitated by conflict and tension from lack of
physical activity are relaxed and focused.
Teachers and principals report improvement
in students’ ability to concentrate and overall
improvement in behavior with others
during class-time. More than half the teachers
we surveyed believe Sports4Kids actually
increases school attendance.
Scientific research backs up our experience,
linking increases in physical activity
to improved focus and attention in the classroom,
providing additional evidence for the
value of organized play. As a result, the health
and educational communities are coming
together to call for increased attention to
children’s need for play.
Sports4Kids offers a vibrant and living
example of what a difference play can make
in schools.
88% of schools request that
Sports4Kids return each year.
94% of principals say that since
Sports4Kids came to their school,
students are more physically active.