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Books for a Buddy Bench

11/4/2015

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We are so excited to have a newly donated "buddy bench" at our school. We are so thankful for our local Lowe's who designed, built, and donated a buddy bench to support our "Taking Care of Others" initiative. 

So what's a buddy bench, you may ask? The buddy bench is a simple idea to eliminate loneliness and foster friendship on the playground. Let's spread the message of inclusion and kindness! If you are feeling lonely and need a friend. Just head to the buddy bench! If you see someone on the buddy bench, then stop what you are doing and go ask this person to join you in play! 

Meet Christian who had the original idea to create a buddy bench! 
Here are three more videos that explain the concept: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSaOWSBD-5A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EUUVgjGYsI&feature=em-share_video_user

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRMxL6dtoqY&feature=em-share_video_user_
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The books I chose to feature with our new buddy bench and #TakingCareThurs are as follows: ​
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The first book I selected is Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig (@trudyludwig). How often do kids feel "invisible" on the playground? "It's lunchtime again...Brian's least favorite part of the day." Lunchtime and recess can be incredibly difficult times for kids. A buddy bench gives kids a way to "take care of each other..." especially kids who are feeling invisible. Small acts of kindness can make the world of difference!  

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The second book I have to share for #TakingCareThurs is incredibly delicious! This book, Peanut Butter & Cupcake, written by Terry Border, is a delightful add to our Taking Care collection. What's a little piece of bread to do when he's feeling lonely? Find a friend, of course! "Peanut Butter found a bench to sit on. He was almost ready to give up. But as he sat there, so very sad, a new kid walked up to him."  

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he last book I chose to feature with our buddy bench and #TakingCareThurs is I'm Here by Peter Reynolds (@PeterHReynolds). This book was written as a way to raise awareness of the importance of reaching out, embracing, and appreciating children in the autism spectrum, as well as anyone who is different from ourselves. Sometimes these children are the one to be left out of play on the playground. What better purpose for a buddy bench then to help "take care" of those that are different from ourselves?

​"I'm here. And you're here. maybe you don't notice me. That's okay. But...maybe...there will be a gentle wind that pulls us together. And then I'll be there... and you'll be here too. The distance between two people is only as big as you let it be." 

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    #TakingCareThurs

    Teachers (and parents, of course!) have the potential to make a huge impact on the lives of their students/kids. Join me and commit to reading a picture book every Thursday or the first Thursday of the month if you can't commit to weekly with "Taking Care of Others" or "Taking Care of Ourselves" themes in order to help our students/children learn important traits like empathy, compassion, friendship, persistence,  grit, and more! Join me weekly as I blog about our book of the week. Make sure to tweet your weekly choice using the hashtag #TakingCareThurs so we can share books and learn from each other. 

    Disclaimer: I am not a counseling professional. The books presented here are suggested solely upon personal experience with the books and my students. 

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