The Buddy Bench Project at Perttu Daycare Centre

Text and photos: Sanna Halme and Anita Viren

The project was originally launched as part of the Tuusula municipality’s focus areas of play, exercise and social skills. In addition, the project was also linked to the Jotpa-funded social worker training programme for educators, which is why Notkopuisto Daycare Centre also has its own friendship bench.

We considered how we could support children in joining in play and developing friendship skills when outdoors. This led to the idea of a friendship bench. The friendship bench is a bench in the nursery playground that is decorated beautifully and specifically supports the themes of Children’s Rights Week. If a child cannot find a friend or a game to play in the yard, they can sit on the bench, so that other children and adults will notice that they need a friend and can ask the child sitting on the bench to join in the game.

First, the educators presented a table theatre performance to the group, using drama to illustrate the idea of a friend bench to the children. The children were given the opportunity to reflect on and consider how they would act in the situations described in the story and to advise the characters. The children were very excited about the theatre and wondered why we didn’t have a friendship bench in the daycare centre’s yard. We listened to the children’s ideas and decided together that we could make one ourselves.

Next, we printed out a colouring picture of a bench for each child, on which they could design their own dream bench. The children were excited about the idea of actually painting a bench according to their plans, but perhaps did not fully understand what painting a real bench would entail in practice. 

Once each child had completed their own plan, we gathered together to vote and, after hearing everyone’s opinion, decided what kind of bench we would build by combining the children’s own plans.

We carried the bench chosen by the children from the yard into our daycare centre’s studio, where it could dry in peace and we could continue painting it over several days. We found some acrylic paints in the daycare centre’s storage room and also received a donation of some house paints from the children’s parents, which we mixed together to create the colours we needed.

The children were extremely excited when they finally saw the bench inside and ready for painting. The whole project took shape at that moment. The plan we had drawn up together was there, and we studied it carefully to see which board was being painted and what patte s we had designed for it.  

Each child approached the task in their own way. Some were cautious, worried about making a mess with the paints. Some were bolder and more generous with their brushstrokes, while others were very precise with the details. A few enjoyed the background music and danced and sang while they painted. Everyone enjoyed themselves in their own way, and everyone said they had a really good time. 

The atmosphere during each painting session was relaxed and gentle. The educators were also enthusiastic themselves, which probably r믭 off on the children and helped to maintain an enthusiastic and creative atmosphere.

The bench is finally ready, and now, during Children’s Rights Week, we are celebrating its inauguration at Perttu Daycare Centre. We will present our initial table theatre performance of the bench project with the children to the entire daycare centre so that everyone playing outside knows what this wonderful bench is for. After that, we will place the bench in a location in the yard that the children think is suitable and raise a toast with juice.

Happy Children’s Rights Week, everyone!

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