What is playwork?

Playwork is an approach to working with children that removes their barriers to play. Trained playworkers support all kinds of play through active engagement and awareness. They assess the benefits and risks involved in the play on physical, social and emotional levels. They do not interrupt, offer unsolicited advice and suggestions, or break the flow of play.

Children are invited to direct their own play and have the opportunity to be creative and imaginative with the support of our caring playworkers. Children can build and destroy structures, use tools, interact with nature, dress up, while taking physical, social and emotional risks that develop their confidence, skills and independence.

The role of the playworker is to interact with the children when invited or needed for guidance or support. They actively maintain the playground, making sure it is stocked with exciting loose parts and organizing it to be interesting and maneuverable for children. Playworkers continuously inspect the space to make sure that kids have risks and challenges to face if they wish, but no hazards that will surprise them. Playworkers observe the children and when they see a need for help or redirection, they intervene as subtly as possible in order to keep the play flowing. This might look like placing a soon-to-be needed tool near the child who can then miraculously find what they need, or challenging a kid to hit a target with sticks that is away from other children who were close to the original target.

FURTHER READING

These resources, which include articles, interviews and books, were compiled by our team. They provide more information, context and discussion, when thinking about play and transforming our city through play. They are listed here in chronological order. Some of them are available via our little library at The Yard on Governors Island. Happy reading!

Decline in Independent Activity as a Cause of Decline in Children’s Mental Well-being: Summary of the Evidence
Gray, Peter; Lance, David; Bjorklund, David. The Journal of Pediatrics, 2023

Playful Cities Toolkit
Arup, the LEGO Foundation, and the Real Play Coalition, 2022

Adventurous Play as a Mechanism for Reducing Risk for Childhood Anxiety: A Conceptual Model
Dodd, Helen; Lester, Kathryn. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 2021

Designing Child-Friendly High Density Neighbourhoods
Krysiak, Natalia. Cities for Play, 2020

Play in Crisis: Support for Parents and Carers
Casey, Theresa. International Play Association, 2020

The Design of Childhood: How the Material World Shapes Independent Kids
Lange, Alexandra. Bloomsbury Publishing, 2018

Playing It Up: With Loose Parts, Playpods and Adventure Playgrounds
Almon, Joan. The Alliance for Childhood, 2017

The New Adventure Playground Movement: How Communities across the USA are Returning Risk and Freedom to Childhood
Leichter-Saxby, Morgan. Notebook Publishing, 2015

The Overprotected Kid
Rosin, Hanna. The Atlantic, 2014

Adventure: The Value of Risk in Children’s Play
Almon, Joan. Alliance for Childhood, 2013

Managing Risk in Play Provision
Ball, David; Gill, Tim; Spiegal, Bernard. Play Safety Forum & National Children’s Bureau, 2012

The Playwork Primer
Wilson, Penny. The Alliance for Childhood, 2010

No Fear: Growing Up in a Risk Averse Society
Gill, Tim. Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, 2007

Containing Children: Some Lessons on Planning for Play from New York City
Hart, Roger. Environment and Urbanization, 14(2), 2002

How Not to Cheat Children: The Theory of Loose Parts
Nicholson, Simon. Landscape Architecture Vol 62, 1971

ADVENTURE PLAYGROUNDS ACROSS THE COUNTRY

Adventure Playground (Berkeley, Ca.): 160 University Ave, Berkeley, CA 94710
https://www.cityofberkeley.info/adventureplayground/

Adventure Playground at the Parish School: 11001 Hammerly Blvd, Houston, TX
https://www.parishschool.org/campus-life/adventure-play/

Huntington Central Park - Adventure Playground : Huntington Beach,CA
https://www.huntingtonbeachca.gov/residents/parks_facilities/parks/huntington_central_park/adventure_playground.cfm

Irvine Adventure Playground at University Park : Irvine, CA
https://funorangecountyparks.com/adventure-playground-irvine-university-park.html

Mercer Island Adventure Playground : Mercer Island, WA
http://www.mercergov.org/Page.asp?NavID=2768

Koop Adventure Playground Champaign : Urbana, IL
https://www.koopadventureplayground.com/

Freerange Playground : Denver, CO
http://www.freerangeplayground.org/

Ithaca Children’s Garden : Ithaca, NY
http://ithacachildrensgarden.org/

Sallie Foster Adventure Playground : Omaha, Nebraska
https://www.facebook.com/Salliefosteradventureplayground/

RESOURCES

RECENT covERagE about PLAY AND ITS BENEFITS

Play encompasses problem-solving, investigation, creativity, movement, collaboration, imagination, conflict-resolution, and so much more. Its benefits on mental health, physical health, and children’s learning, are well-documented. Adventure play can also help cities build a greener future. Learn more via FastCompany, New York Magazine, New York Public Library, The Guardian, Social Life Project, The Economist, Financial Times, StreetsBlog, Vox, PlayRights Magazine, New York Magazine, The New York Times, and NPR (click on image to access article).