27 June 2023 , 14:25
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A little boy has left people in tears after sharing a touching playground gesture with his parent, inspiring countless adults with his kindness and empathy.
Sadly, even those who grew up many years ago may remember the feeling of being left out during playtime at school, left to watch on as their classmates formed groups and played games.
One school has tackled this all-too-common issue in a very caring, and seemingly effective manner, by creating a spot known to the pupils as "the bench of friends".
An anonymous parent has shared how the bench concept has helped tackle loneliness at the school, sharing a sweet conversation with their young son that's moved other people deeply.
In the post, which was re-shared by the Call To Activism Facebook page, the proud parent recalled: "Yesterday I was visiting my son's school. I see a bright-coloured bench in the yard. I asked if this was the only place to sit.
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"And he said to me, 'No, that's the bench of friends. When someone is lonely or can't find a play partner, they'll sit there and others invite them to play with them'.
"I tell him I thought this was great, and I asked him if he used it himself? He says, 'Yes at the beginning of the year when I was new here'.
"I sat there and another student came to invite me to play with him. This made me happy. And now when I see someone sitting there, I also invite them to play."
Many people loved the clever and creative idea and expressed the importance of learning such valuable lessons from a young age.
One person applauded: "Be still my heart. What a wonderful, inclusive thing to do! Kudos to the people who came up with this simple, effective way to get kids involved in the solution. Blessings."
Another approved: "Brings attention to these young people of how to notice and offer compassion".
A third person wrote: "We need an adult bench of friends. If this makes a huge difference in the lives of children, think what these children can do as adults at the bench of friends but we can take the challenge now as adults!
"Granted, some adults want that moment or few moments of alone time but others really need that friend."
According to statistics published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in 2018, a shocking 45 per cent of participants between the ages of 10 and 15 reported feeling lonely "often" or "some of the time".
It's believed loneliness can have a serious impact on a child's mental health and wellbeing, and initiatives such as this could make all the difference.
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If you're struggling and need to talk, the Samaritans operate a free helpline open 24/7 on 116 123. Alternatively, you can email [email protected] or visit their site to find your local branch
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