Accepting Differences a Goal of New 'Buddy Benches' System at a Hastings Elementary School

So-called Buddy Benches are a new social interaction idea at playgrounds at an elementary school in Hastings, Nebraska. Lincoln Elementary received the benches, which were donated by local businesses.

Cara Beckenhauer is Principal of the pre-k through fifth grade school and she explained the idea behind the benches.

“The idea is that students, if they are feeling lonely, or they don’t have someone to play with, they can go sit on the buddy bench,” she said, “and then the other students can see if there’s somebody on the buddy bench, and go over and invite them to play with them, or talk with them, or do something with them.”

She said the two benches aim to help students accept their differences.

Since the benches are new, Beckenhauer said it might take some teaching and understanding before the students learn the process.

Buddy Benches or ‘friendship benches’ are something the school knew about, but local businesses reached out to Lincoln Elementary to donate money for purchasing them.