The Power of Playfulness: Creating Safety with the PACE Approach in Schools (2)

PACE Schools Blog Series: Part Two

In schools today, more educators are working with children who have experienced trauma or have unmet attachment needs. These pupils often find it difficult to trust adults, regulate their emotions, or feel safe enough to learn. Yet they are often the very children who most need patience, connection, and care.

That’s where the PACE approach in schools can make a difference. By weaving playfulness into everyday interactions, teachers and support staff can create an atmosphere of safety and trust—making it easier for pupils to engage, connect, and thrive.

What Does Playfulness Look Like in the PACE Approach?

The PACE model—Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, and Empathy—was developed by clinical psychologist Dan Hughes as a trauma-informed framework for supporting children. Within this model, playfulness isn’t about games or jokes. Instead, it’s about bringing lightness, warmth, and a gentle tone to interactions.

For a pupil who is often on edge or expecting conflict, this approach lowers defences. A smile, a playful comment, or a lighthearted response can reduce tension and signal: “You’re safe here. I’m not against you.”

This is why many educators find the PACE approach in schools so powerful—it helps break down barriers and builds the kind of trusting relationships that children with trauma need most.

Why Playfulness Builds Safety in the Classroom

Children who have experienced trauma often carry a deep sense of fear or mistrust into their school experience. Traditional behaviour management techniques can sometimes escalate situations, leaving pupils feeling more unsafe.

By contrast, playfulness:

• 🛡️ Signals safety. A light tone can reassure pupils that conflict isn’t coming.

• 🤝 Builds connection. Playfulness helps adults and children share moments of trust and joy.

• 🌿 Reduces anxiety. Pupils who are used to criticism or rejection feel more at ease.

• 💡 Keeps relationships central. Even during challenging behaviour, the message is: “I still want to be with you.”

This approach doesn’t mean avoiding boundaries. Rather, it means setting limits in a way that feels relational, not punitive—one of the cornerstones of trauma-informed teaching.

Putting Playfulness into Practice 🎭

Here are a few simple ways to use playfulness as part of your PACE approach in schools:

1. Use a warm, playful tone

A slight twinkle in your eye, a gentle smile, or a sing-song tone can signal safety. You might say, “Hmm, I wonder if your pencil has gone on holiday?” instead of, “Where’s your pencil again?”

2. Start with a “Joke of the Day” or playful ritual

Small, consistent moments of fun build a sense of routine and connection. Try starting each morning with a silly joke, brain teaser or light-hearted classroom mascot activity.

3. Incorporate low-pressure games

Quick, connection-focused games during transitions or brain breaks (like “Would You Rather” or movement-based games) create moments of joy that don’t rely on academic success.

4. Use props or sensory play tools

For younger pupils, especially, puppets, fidget tools, or tactile materials can create playful, non-verbal ways to connect. These tools also support self-regulation and sensory needs.

Case Studies: Playfulness in Action

🧑‍🏫 Mr. Johnson, Year 2 teacher
Every morning, Mr. Johnson welcomes pupils with a “Joke of the Day” and encourages silly answers. This five-minute ritual has become a classroom favourite and helps his more anxious pupils feel relaxed before the register is even taken.

👩‍🏫 Ms. Zaidi, Secondary English teacher
During revision season, Ms. Zaidi uses quiz-style review games with fun sound effects and team mascots. Her pupils—especially those with school-based anxiety—report feeling more engaged and less stressed during test prep.

These examples show that playfulness doesn’t mean a lack of structure—it’s about bringing lightness, warmth and humanity into the everyday rhythm of school life.

✅ Want to keep learning?

1. 📬 Join our PACE Schools newsletter below 👇  to get the next post in this series (on the power of Acceptance) delivered straight to your inbox.

2. 🎓 Book your place on our PACE Mindset for Schools training to gain confidence, connection strategies, and a whole-school approach to PACE in the classroom.