"Favourite idea"

My favourite idea is the peer "buddy". Friendships are important to everyone including children with special needs, and while some of them may be able to make friends easily, others may need help making that connection. When paired with a "buddy", the child with a special need has the opportunity to interact with a typically developing child and is able to form genuine friendships. When a special needs child was given a peer "buddy" he became more socially active and as a result of the intervention the child was able to approach his typical peers more frequently. This encouraged positive social interactions and social relationships to develop between the child with and the children without a special need. It also caused the children to become kinder and more attentive to their peer with a special education need leading to growth in both children.

An easy way to choose a pair "buddy" is to watch for children who show an interest in each other or in similar activities and encourage and strengthen their budding friendship by allowing them time to play together both in the classroom and out of the classroom.