By MEGAN MAHARRY, Student Reporter
Picture this: every child has a friend to play with, at recess, with no child being left out or alone. This image could be made possible if The Buddy Bench was on every playground nationwide.
The Buddy Bench is no ordinary bench. The purpose of the Buddy Bench is to ensure elementary children always have a buddy to play with at recess. The benches are put into elementary school playgrounds. If a child needs a friend or someone to play with, they sit on the bench. As other children notice someone is sitting on the bench, they can invite the child to play with them.
Although the Buddy Benches first originated in Germany, Christian Bucks is credited with sparking the popularity in the Buddy Benches. According to buddybench.org, He was in first grade when his family was planning to move to Germany. He looked into the German schools and saw benches similar to the Buddy Bench. He liked the idea, and later shared it with his school principal at Roundtown Elementary in York, Pennsylvania.
Mr. Steve Parkhurst is the superintendent for the Alva School District. When asked about his thoughts on the Buddy Bench, he said it was a good idea. Parkhurst said making sure kids have others to play and interact with is especially important at the elementary level. He said helping engage isolated kids on the playground will carry over into the classroom. If kids begin including other kids in activities at recess, kids will start to include other kids in activities in the classroom.
Parkhurst thinks the Buddy Benches could help include those isolated kids. He said if the information was presented, he and the Alva School Board would definitely consider installing Buddy Benches in the elementary school playgrounds. “As long as I have been in education, I know kids get left out,” Parkhurst said.
According to tolerance.org, there are at least 1,000 elementary schools on six different continents that have installed Buddy Benches on their playgrounds, and the number continues to grow. Teachers and educators like the idea of the Buddy Benches because the benches address many social aspects. If there are new kids at school, they have a place to go in order to seek companionship. If kids are victim to bullying, the benches provide a safe place for those kids to sit and find other to play with.
The Buddy Benches also provide the chance for kids to develop their social skills. The benches help encourage kids to interact with other kids. These interactions and chances to make new friendships are important.
The Buddy Bench creates a positive place for kids. It provides opportunities for kids who may not have someone to play with, and opportunities for other kids to engage with each other. The Buddy Bench helps ensure every kid has the chance to be connected with someone.
Christian’s Buddy Bench; Website link: http://buddybench.org/
Teaching Tolerance; Website link: http://www.tolerance.org/magazine/number-52-spring-2016/feature/wanted-playground-buddy
Steve Parkhurst, Alva Superintendent