Students at a York, Pa., elementary school can credit a second-grader for feeling less lonely during recess since the youngster advocated the installation of a playground “buddy bench.”
And Christian Bucks’ idea to foster friendships and end playground loneliness is spreading. The "Today" show featured Christian on Wednesday as he made a presentation about the buddy bench at his school.
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The York Daily Record reported that Christian saw the buddy bench in a brochure for a school in Germany. Sensing the idea could work at his school, Bucks approached Roundtown Elementary School Principal Matthew Miller, who agreed.
"Mr. Miller checked around and found a bench that would work for our school,” Christian told the newspaper. “Before he ordered the bench, he showed me the colors and I got to pick the style and color of the bench. I was the first person that got to sit on the bench when it arrived at Roundtown."
Painted in bright colors, the buddy bench is a designated space for students looking for friendship.
Christian said if two students are sitting on the bench they can ask each other to play.
He told the Record that he hopes the bench will help "grow our dream circle of friends."
Commenters on the newspaper article gave Christian kudos.
Matt Lauer called Christian his "new favorite kid."
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