Buddy Bench to be installed at HEMS!

The Buddy Bench is a simple idea with a great impact. It is a place where a child can sit when they need a friend and may not feel comfortable going up to another child and asking them to play. By sitting on the bench they are communicating this need to their peers. It offers the opportunity for children to show empathy and kindness to one another and build new relationships. The Buddy Bench also offers the opportunity for larger, school-wide conversations surrounding the importance of communicating our needs and feelings and providing mutual support to one another. The Buddy Bench program aims to reduce social isolation, improve mental well-being and in turn reduce bullying.

For more information on the Buddy Bench, read and visit:

• "The Buddy Bench" By Patty Brozo - A children's book that discusses the importance and purpose of Buddy Benches

• Charlie Cooper Ted Talk- How Little People Can Make a Big Difference

• Sara Groen "Buddy Bench: A Strategy to Increase Social Inclusion for Children with Special Needs."

• Colby Itkowitz, "Kids don’t have to lonely at recess anymore thanks to this little boy and his "buddy bench"

• Douglas Shaw, "How "Buddy Benches" Are Making Playtime Less Lonely"