What is Buddy Break?
Buddy Break is a FREE Parents’ Day Out/respite program where kids with all types of special needs (VIP kids) have FUN while their parents get a BREAK. At Buddy Break, VIP kids and their siblings make new friends, play games, do crafts, hear children’s stories, enjoy music, and more! Meanwhile, parents get a break from their ongoing care-giving responsibilities, usually for three hours on a Friday night or Saturday morning.
At Buddy Break, Kids have FUN! Parents get a BREAK!
Why Buddy Break?
Giving families of kids with special needs a break
- One out of 10 kids under the age of 14 has some kind of special need. You probably know someone with a VIP kid!
- The weight and stress of raising a child with special needs can be overwhelming.
- Mental Health Treatment of stress is 2-3x higher for parents of VIP kids versus parents of typical kids.
- The divorce rate is high (up to 80%) for couples with a child with special needs.
- Families may experience extreme isolation, depression, loneliness, and fatigue.
- Opportunities to get a break are rare, yet desperately needed to survive.
Get a Break!
Do you have a VIP and need a break? If so, you’ve come to the right place.
VIPs include kids with any physical, cognitive, medical, or hidden disability, chronic or life-threatening illness, or those who are medically fragile. This program is for VIP kids ages 2 to 16, as well as siblings K4 to fifth grade. Some Buddy Break locations have expanded their programs to serve a wider age range based on the need in their communities.
Need a BREAK? Click HERE to find out how to get one with 3 easy steps!
Give a Break!
Start or Expand Your Special Needs Ministry
Would your church like to start or expand your ministry to kids with special needs and their families through Buddy Break? Click HERE for more information on starting this exciting program! On-demand training now available!!!
Volunteer at a Buddy Break
Get started in 3 easy steps:
- Find a Buddy Break location near you (Click here)
- Contact that location’s coordinator and schedule a time to go Buddy Training 101 to be a Buddy!
- Register as a Volunteer Buddy HERE
Hear our Buddy Break Stories
“One of our VIP’s who is on the autism spectrum sat down today with other children in the same area. This was huge because she generally does not sit still, and especially because she was closely watching 2 other girls in the area. She generally doesn’t make a lot of eye contact with the other children, so it was wonderful to see her starting to parallel play.” Volunteer Buddy
“I had a buddy that had gone through the training the Thursday before our Buddy Break. She arrived on Saturday morning, and said that she would help that day because she had committed, but she didn’t feel emotionally able to work with special needs kids going forward. I placed her in a floater role for the day. About an hour into our Buddy Break, this Buddy came back to me, thanked me for “opening her eyes to how amazing special needs kids are,” and asked if she could continue to come help in the future. At the end, she told me “I thought I was coming to bless the kids today, but it turns out that they blessed me.” Buddy Break Coordinator
“Today was our first day of Buddy Break! Okay…. can I just tell you how AMAZING these people are!!! Seriously, I am beyond impressed at the quality of training, care, and compassion they show to these special kiddos! Buddy Break is a unique program through a beautiful, Christ centered program called Nathaniel’s Hope. They offer parents of VIP kids a break one time a month for 3 hours. I wasn’t sure how this was going to go. Caleb was sobbing and verbally protesting the entire morning, but they were FABULOUS. Within minutes, they helped Caleb transition and he was happily playing with his “helper”. They have tables with sensory toys, an adaptive playground for children of all abilities, music, crafts, games….. And so much more. From the bottom of our hearts…. THANK YOU!!! Thank you to Nathaniel’s Hope for your selflessness in starting this program. Thank you for taking something so painful and turning it into something so beautiful. We are so grateful! May “the beauty of the Lord our God be upon them, And establish the work of their hands for them; Yes, establish the work of their hands.” VIP Mom
“We just went to our first Buddy Break and we were blown away by how amazing it was for our VIP kids…. Even my son was begging me to go back. What a beautiful program….. We are sooooo grateful!!” VIP Mom
“My son loves buddy breaks he feels included an loved without judgement or shame , he loves the events because they are days that he can be himself it’s made a difference in his behavior an self esteem.” VIP Mom
“The buddy breaks have been a lifesaver! The kids love attending and look forward to every session! I love that I get a chance to relax a little while knowing they are safe and loved. We are so grateful for this amazing program!” VIP Mom
“Nathanial’s Hope has literally given our family HOPE during a time when it felt like everything was closing in on us. We are believers, but when our third child was also diagnosed with a disability, it just felt like too much. We were referred to Nathanial’s Hope and my husband and I got to go on our first “date” in almost a year while the kids were at Buddy Break. I can’t even tell you what a blessing this organization is. They have come alongside us in prayer and we are forever grateful. Thank you!!” VIP Parents
Can’t go to Buddy Break? Buddy Break will come to YOU!
Watch Virtual Buddy Break from the comfort of your own home!
Watch Virtual Buddy Break Here
