A joyful group of diverse children smiling and looking down at the camera.

What happens on the schoolyard shapes how children feel, connect, and engage—every day.

Yet schoolyards remain one of the most overlooked drivers of student well-being, belonging, healthy school climates, and school success, particularly during recess. Schoolyards For Thought, led by Dr. Lauren McNamara, emphasizes the importance of how schoolyards function—not just how they look. The initiative examines the social, organizational, and environmental conditions that shape students’ everyday experiences, which are crucial for fostering a positive school climate and implementing effective anti-bullying strategies. Through research, policy, and applied partnerships, we work with schools and systems to design these environments that consistently support connection, inclusion, engagement, and mental health over time.

Why Schoolyards Matter

For millions of children, the schoolyard is where much of daily life unfolds—often their primary access to play, sport, nature, and social connection.

These experiences are not peripheral to learning. They shape how students feel about school, how they relate to one another, and how they engage in the classroom.

What students experience in schoolyards carries into classrooms—and accumulates over time, shaping belonging, well-being, and participation in school life.

Yet despite their importance, schoolyards have historically been underdesigned, under-resourced, and treated as separate from core educational priorities.

What happens on the schoolyard shapes how children feel, connect, and engage—every day.

Why Schoolyards Matter

The Missed Opportunity

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