The Buddy Bench

Have you heard about The Buddy Bench?  As we continue efforts to promote acceptance and foster a safe and respectful environment for children, this idea gives students of all ages a hands-on way to do that when they are on the playground.  The idea fits nicely with all of our anti-bullying efforts.  The concept, started by an 8-year-old named Christian, is pretty simple.  Students who feel insecure or nervous about joining in with playground activities and games are encouraged to sit on the buddy bench as a signal to other students that they would like to be included but are afraid to ask.  It can be a place to meet new friends and play with old friends.  This article from the Huffington Post provides a great explanation of why this is such a special idea.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/buddy-bench-students-pittsburgh_us_5655e132e4b079b28189dcd2

To hear more about Christian's story and watch a video he created, visit:

http://buddybench.org/

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