The PLAYground: Achieving Holistic + Educational Well-Being through P.L.A.Y

K-12 STEAM education

Central LA East LA South LA

Pilot or new project, program, or initiative (testing or implementing a new idea)

The current education system often prioritizes standardized outcomes over holistic well-being, leading to burnout and disengagement among students, educators, and administrators. This is particularly evident in BIPOC communities, where systemic inequities result in under-resourced schools and culturally disconnected curriculum. Research highlights that culturally relevant and congruent pedagogy, which integrates students' cultural backgrounds into learning, enhances engagement and achievement. Furthermore, play-based learning has been shown to support social-emotional development and cognitive growth. Play-centered teaching and facilitation creates an environment for optimal learning, critical thinking, improved behavior and social interactions, and enhanced student-teacher connection. However, access to and execution of such enriching educational experiences remains a challenge, necessitating initiatives that center joy, creativity, and cultural affirmation in learning environments.

The PLAYground: Achieving Holistic + Educational Well-Being through P.L.A.Y is a 12-month pilot program designed to reimagine education, professional development, teacher work days and staff meetings, by integrating play, cultural relevance, and holistic wellness into learning environments. P.L.A.Y. stands for Purposeful Living All and Year. The initiative will implement quarterly themed "retreat" days within schools, replacing traditional professional development sessions with immersive experiences that foster creativity, collaboration, and emotional well-being. Each retreat will incorporate movement, storytelling, mindfulness, and arts-based activities, facilitated by a diverse team of educators and healing arts practitioners. This approach aligns with research advocating for culturally relevant and congruent education that reflects students' backgrounds and experiences. Additionally, the program draws on findings that emphasize the importance of play in supporting cognitive and social development. To evaluate impact, the program will utilize tools such as the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS) and the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory (IMI), alongside qualitative feedback from participants. By centering joy, cultural affirmation, and holistic practices, The PLAYground aims to transform educational spaces into nurturing environments that support the well-being and success of all students, educators and administrators, particularly those from BIPOC communities.

What happens in the classroom/school - whether from the student, teacher, admin’s perspective - determines how they interact with themselves, each other, their families, and the world around them. Students, teachers, and administrators spend 1/3 of their day on campus, shaping how they engage with themselves, each other, and the world. Our program focuses on students, teachers, and administrators, transforming school culture by integrating quarterly themed retreat-style experiences that encourage self-reflection, creativity, imagination, movement, and collaboration. These days promote trust, safety, and joy while engaging multiple learning styles. By prioritizing play as a tool for growth and healing, the initiative strengthens school communities and creates ripple effects into homes, neighborhoods, and broader society. Long-term, we envision PLAYground expanding into schools across LA County, inspiring systemic change in how education is approached and experienced.