Dartmouth Public Schools is continuing its efforts to address students’ social and emotional issues by introducing “buddy benches” to the elementary schools this week.

The “buddy bench” is a bench designed specifically for students who struggle with developing friendships and socializing with peers due to social and emotional issues, said Special Education Parent Advisory Council co-chair Marianne Santos. Santos unveiled the benches at the December 12 School Committee meeting.

The benches provide students with a space to seek new friends. Ideally, children in the playground area will understand that they should approach and socialize with any student sitting at the bench.

The benches were the idea of former SEPAC board member Andrea Vigus, who — inspired by her own son’s trouble making friends in school — first approached SEPAC in March.

“My son has had real social challenges, and he has a hard time making friends,” Vigus said. “Something as simple as a buddy bench would have made a difference.”

Committee members agreed that the idea looked promising, and, through fundraising at the group’s annual Special Olympics event, raised enough money to buy a single bench. Through SEPAC’s annual Community Resource Fair, enough money was raised to buy benches for every elementary school, said Santos.

Going forward, Santos plans to introduce the benches into the school curriculum, so students and staff will know exactly what the benches are for.

The benches can convert into picnic tables as well.