Better Buddies Games is an opportunity to promote non competitive activities that all buddies can participate in and feel included. The Games reinforce the importance of being active and give children a way to include each other outside normal buddy activity times.  Better Buddies Games highlight the importance of cooperation, sharing and taking turns, negotiation, managing conflict and other important pro-social skills.  In addition, it provides students with a range of games they could play during break times, which also helps to reduce bullying and other negative behaviour at these times. The Games also provide an opportunity for the older buddies to develop independence and responsibility in their buddy relationship through thinking about and organising Games for their buddies.

Better Buddies Games are held in May. The games can run for an afternoon, a day, or a week. Every school will run their Games a bit differently, so it's important to plan early and book time in so that all classes involved are aware.

To help schools celebrate Better Buddies Games in 2011, our proud partner NAB has kindly produced activity books for buddies to enjoy.  This year's booklet has been designed to encourage buddies to work together to learn more about the Better Buddies values.  Once buddies have completed activities at school, the booklet can be flipped over to find more great activities students can try with family members at home.

Special features in this year's activity booklet include:

• a $20 NAB Smart Junior Saver voucher available for each student to redeem upon opening a new account;
• a drawing competition in which students could win a Book Week book pack for themselves, and their school.