“Buddy Bench” created for shy school kids to find friends
A group of kids at McIntyre Elementary School, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, have created a special bench to help make sure their fellow classmates are never left out of playground time. Called the "Buddy Bench,” kids sit on the bench to let other children know that they’d like to be included in playtime, but may be too shy or scared to ask.
"The school community, students, parents, and faculty understand that the buddy bench is a tool for kids to use to advocate for themselves, to always include others and to promote a safe, respectful and responsible environment for all children," Regina Farrell, school counsellor at McIntyre Elementary, told The Huffington Post.
The idea for the bench came from the students themselves last year. Farrell was conducting a leadership group to help students with shyness and gain confidence, when four year four students came up with the Buddy Bench. Farrell helped the children write a letter to the Parent Teacher Staff Organisation and soon the bench became a reality.
"The bench is a powerful anti-bullying tool," Farrell explained. "It builds kid’s self-esteem to ask others to play with them. Likewise, reaching out to a peer who is feeling left out is significant as well."
Adorned with a cheerful sign that reads "Buddy Bench", Farrell says the bright metal bench has resonated with the children and school community.
"Each day, I go to recess and see the buddy bench working," Farrell said. "The lessons they are learning now will benefit them their entire lives. It is simply a beautiful example of kids wanting to be kind and continue to be kind every day."
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