What Is A Buddy Bench?

Information taken from http://buddybench.org/get-involved/strategies-using-buddy-bench/

Have a Plan

• Think about what you want to do BEFORE you go out for recess.

Friends at Recess

1. Look around and decide what to do.

2. Go to a person.

3. Smile

4. Say, “Do you want to play __________?”

Buddy Bench Strategy

• Rest and think about what you would like to do.

• Look around the playground to see if you can find someone to play with.

• If you see something you want to play, get off the bench and go play.

Find a Friend

• If you see a friend you would like to play with, get off of the bench and go ask them if they would like to walk, talk, or play with you.

Go and Play

• Sit and wait for a friend to ask you to play. Then go with that friend who offers.

• If you choose to sit on the bench, you must go with the first person who asks you to play with them.

Pair Up and Play

• When 2 kids are sitting on the bench, make a plan to play together.

Not on the Bench?

• If you are not sitting on the bench, be watching for people to invite to play with you.

• When you invite someone to play, you show caring and empathy.

Adults May Help

• If no one approaches you on the bench, an adult or STAR Team member will help find a “Buddy” for you to play with.

Make a New Friend

• If you use the Buddy Bench, you can make a new friend to play with more than once.

• The Buddy Bench should not be used by the same person two days in a row.

• Once you make a friend on the Buddy Bench, keep that friend by inviting them to play.

The Buddy Bench Was Created by the 2014-15 STAR Team Members