Why Play Works: Big Changes Start Small - Paperback

by Jill Vialet (Author)

Harness the power of play in building learning environments that help students thrive

In Why Play Works, expert educator and author Jill Vialet shares her insights from a career of promoting play. Designed to support schools, education professionals and parents in promoting play as an essential tool for increasing social connection amongst their students, you'll find out why playing is a behavior that's helped children learn to navigate the demands of social interaction for eons, and how we can keep it central to their school experience even as we return from the COVID-19 pandemic.

In this book, you'll discover:

• Why it's important to intentionally integrate play into day-to-day school operations because of its ability to help students learn to manage risks, develop greater self awareness, and build confidence
• Ways of incorporating play into space - both in-person and remote - that contribute to responsive, flexible and sustainable teaching and learning environments
• Real examples of schools leveraging play to promote youth leadership and student agency
• How to incorporate play in co-creating new approaches to education, building off the insight that big changes start small

Perfect for educators, school administrators, parents of school-age children, and anyone who is simply play-curious, Why Play Works is intended to prompt your thinking about all the ways in which play can be a tool for helping to bring out the best in our kids.. The book stands out as a thoughtful, playful and effective guide for supporting the learning and well-being of students everywhere.

Front Jacket

Build engaging learning environments that help students thrive with the power of play

In Why Play Works, social entrepreneur and author Jill Vialet shares insights from over twenty-five years of joyfully inspiring play to increase connection among children. You'll discover how to integrate play into daily life, diving deep into how it can help people learn to manage risks, develop self-awareness, and build confidence. You'll also learn how to incorporate play as a tool for promoting learning--whether in-person or remote--from real examples and case studies showcasing the use of play to encourage leadership and student agency.

"WOW. In Why Play Works, Vialet offers a well written, fast moving and compelling case for why play--that seemingly frivolous childhood obsession--holds the seeds to social connectedness, civility and democracy itself. A must-read for anyone who cares about children and the future of society and for all who can use a little more recess in their lives."

--KATHY HIRSH-PASESK, Professor of Psychology, Temple University; Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution; author, Becoming Brilliant and Einstein Never Used Flashcards

"This book provides a compelling, science-based narrative and methods for addressing problems that explode regularly in recess settings and during the school day. The solutions described in this book work magically in many varied and highly challenging settings. Jill's leadership and Playworks' track record offer an antidote to disconnection, isolation, fear, distrust and despair, replacing them with joyfulness, resiliency, changemaking skills... and more."

--STUART BROWN, MD, Founder, National Institute for Play

"Why Play Works makes the case for play equity in a moment when we need it more than ever. Vialet has brought together stories, insights and playfulness in a useful, readable format that we hope will shift the thinking of educators, activists and families of the important role of play to physical and mental wellbeing."

--RENATA SIMRL, President and CEO, LA84 and President, Play Equity Fund

Author Biography

JILL VIALET is an accomplished social entrepreneur and author. She is the co-founder of Oakland's Museum of Children's Art and Substantial Classrooms, and the founder of Playworks, a national nonprofit committed to bringing out the best in students by leveraging the power of play.