How Play Builds Belonging and Resilience with Elizabeth Cushing

Summary

Elizabeth Cushing, CEO of Playworks, joins Jethro Jones to talk about how play builds belonging, emotional resilience, leadership, and attendance at school. They discuss what changes when recess becomes a predictable, inclusive place where every student can join a game, how adults model connection by playing alongside students, and how junior coaches turn older students into peer leaders.

They also talk about the practical side of bringing Playworks into a school: choosing games that keep students moving, reducing conflicts that follow students back to class, using Title I and other funding sources, and helping school communities make recess a meaningful part of the school day.

Chapters

0:00 — Welcome to Transformative Principal0:59 — What Playworks changes on the playground2:45 — Games that keep every student included5:30 — Bringing play into classrooms7:01 — Why play builds emotional resilience10:16 — Adults, attendance, and belonging13:30 — Junior coaches and student leadership17:25 — How schools pay for Playworks19:37 — Why every age needs meaningful play20:40 — Transforming a playground community23:10 — Recess, school pride, and belonging25:40 — A practical invitation to go playShow Notes

Guest: Elizabeth Cushing, CEO of PlayworksPlayworks: playworks.orgPlayworks podcast and 30-Day Attendance Reset: playworks.org/podcastTopics: inclusive recess, emotional resilience, attendance, school climate, peer leadership, junior coaches, and funding school-based play

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