Families

Children deserve joyful, playful learning experiences this summer and beyond. This toolkit is meant to help guide how play and physical activity should be included as part of children’s daily lives.

Tools for Families:

• Examples of Play (PDF)
• Student Recess Letter (PDF)
• Email Template (PDF)
• Social Media (PDF)

Educators and Administrators

Play provides opportunities for children to reduce stress, explore feelings, and form relationships with peers. For more than a year, children remained socially distanced from their peers and adjusted to a new way of schooling. As we shift from remote learning back to in-person school, the importance of play and recess must be at the forefront of the conversation around reopening schools and helping children adjust to a changed educational environment.

Tools for Educators:

• The Case for Including Play and Physical Activity in School Reopening Plans (PDF)
• Examples of Play (PDF)
• PE Teachers: Advice & Tips (PDF)

Acknowledgements

The creation of this toolkit was made possible by The Grable Foundation and Remake Learning Tomorrow Grants.

Special thanks to the following organizations for their contributions and guidance in the creation of this toolkit. Their work on the Recess Advocacy Team has been instrumental in creating this toolkit and in the ongoing advocacy efforts. Each organization brings to the table their own expertise and perspective:

• Action for Healthy Kids
• Allegheny County Health Department
• A+ Schools
• ATL Parent Like a Boss (Parent LAB)
• Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC
• Department of Health and Physical Activity, University of Pittsburgh
• Let’s Move Pittsburgh
• Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy
• Women for a Healthy Environment

Questions & Feedback

For questions or suggestions, please contact recess@tryingtogether.org.

Acknowledgements

Support, inspiration, and insight for the Family Engagement Toolkit was drawn from several sources, including Jefferson Regional Foundation.

Learn more about our supporters and contributors.

Relative Providers

Relative providers fill two special roles as both a family member and a provider for a child. When a relative provider engages with a parent or caregiver using intentional, strengths-based supportive strategies for communicating and connecting, they actively strengthen the network of caring adults that contribute to the child’s healthy learning and growing.

 

More Information

To view available spots at early learning, after-school, and virtual programs in Allegheny County, please visit Allegheny Child Care.

Please contact forum@tryingtogether.org with any questions, and share this flyer with your networks.

Charity Navigator Rating

Charity Navigator is America’s premier independent charity evaluator. Charity Navigator awarded Trying Together four out of a possible four stars. Receiving four stars indicates that Trying Together adheres to good governance, values transparency, and consistently executes its mission in a fiscally responsible way. Visit Charity Navigator to review our four-star rating.

 

About Allegheny Child Care

The Allegheny Child Care initiative is: managed by Trying Together in partnership with the Allegheny County Department of Human Services and Allegheny Partners for Out-of-School Time (APOST); with additional support from the City of Pittsburgh; and was developed in collaboration with Child Care Aware of America, The Heinz Endowments, and technology partners Bowtie, BrightHive, and BridgeCare.

For more information about Allegheny Child Care, email info@alleghenychildcare.org.

2026 Platinum Seal of Transparency

Trying Together earned a 2026 Platinum Seal of Transparency by adding information to our Nonprofit Profile on GuideStar. Now our community members, as well as 10+ million GuideStar users, can find in-depth information about our goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress. View our GuideStar page to learn more!

 

Charity Navigator Rating

Charity Navigator is America’s premier independent charity evaluator. Charity Navigator awarded Trying Together four out of a possible four stars. Receiving four stars indicates that Trying Together adheres to good governance, values transparency, and consistently executes its mission in a fiscally responsible way. Visit Charity Navigator to review our four-star rating.

Send a Check

Payable to:
Trying Together
5604 Solway Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15217

 

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United Way Donor Choice

Trying Together is #1524827

 

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2025 Platinum Seal of Transparency

Trying Together earned a 2025 Platinum Seal by adding information to our Nonprofit Profile on GuideStar. Now our community members, as well as 10+ million GuideStar users, can find in-depth information about our goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

 

 

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Charity Navigator Rating

Charity Navigator is America’s premier independent charity evaluator. Charity Navigator awarded Trying Together four out of a possible four stars. Receiving four stars indicates that Trying Together adheres to good governance, values transparency, and consistently executes its mission in a fiscally responsible way. Visit Charity Navigator to review our four-star rating.

 

 

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