Dear John,
A game of catch may sound simple at first, but play has the power to bring people together. That's exactly what Coach Mike and Cayden experienced.
Last fall, kindergartener Cayden could be seen walking around by himself during playtime. You’d never see his red shirt running through the playground or his hands high-fiving other kids, you’d just hear his shoes shuffling along the blacktop.
When kids play, they develop motor skills, build relationships with peers, practice communication and problem solving skills, and more. Cayden wasn’t getting physical, social, or emotional benefits from playing.
Donate $125, $75, or $50 this Giving Tuesday, John, to help kids like Cayden.
Playworks enables adults and peers to support students like Cayden. Coach Mike listened to Cayden. Cayden had never learned how to throw or catch or how to get invited into a game. When Coach Mike asked him what he'd like to play, Cayden answered “football!” So, for a few minutes at the beginning of each recess, they would throw and catch a football across the playground. It didn’t take long for other students to take notice. Cayden’s classmates became very invested in his success and began to cheer him on or join in.
By the end of the year, Cayden’s peers invited him to play every day. This year, Cayden is thriving and benefits from running, jumping, and laughing with his friends.
