Our school social worker, Yadira Cruz, has been working with Los Arboles to implement the Buddy Bench. The Buddy Bench allows students to foster new and old friendships as well as eliminate loneliness. The students are encouraged to have a plan of what they want to do before recess. Students are encouraged to go up to another student and ask if they would like to play. Students can use the buddy bench to rest and think about what they’ll like to do. While on the bench they can look around if they can still join in somewhere, if they can, get off the bench and go play!
If students in the school see someone sitting on the bench, the students are encouraged to invite them off the bench to go and play with them. The student on the bench should say, “Yes” to the friend who invites them. They are encouraged to keep inviting that friend to play to continue to build friendships! If two students are sitting on the bench, one student can turn to another student and ask that student to play.
In addition, Playground Ambassadors (PA) has been added as an additional component to the Buddy Bench. Playground Ambassadors are selected 1st and 3rd grade students who will help with the Buddy Bench. PA helped decorate the bench as a sense of inclusion and friendship building. PA will keep an eye on the bench during recesses and if other students have not approached students on the bench, PA will take the initiative to invite them to play. PA are not completely in charge of the bench but are simply an additional support to other students and the Buddy Bench.
Our goal is to eliminate loneliness, increase friendships, and foster a positive school climate where every student feels included.