Working with Kids

[Eraser]

Hey all,

I've just recently this year started working with kids.. (first it was little league baseball) and now, my school has asked me to start helping out with the junior classes... my problem is that I would rather be the junior's "buddy" rather than the disciplinary (sp),
I know at time you have to be tuff with them.. but how can I accomplish this without coming off as a hard-a@@.
Any suggestions would be great!!!

Thanks in advance:asian:

[Kirk]

Don't sweat it! Kids are very forgiving. Be stern when you have
to, and be their buddy when you can. If they're good, you be
their buddy ... if they're acting up, then take whatever action you
feel is applicable to the situation.

[Kempojujutsu]

Exactly what Kirk said. You don't have to be a drill sargent. My philosophy is kids should have fun and want to come back. But they should be learning, it's not a babysitting center for mom and Dad. Yes there are going to times you are going to have to pull the foot down and other times you are their best buddy. I find when kids don't have school, they are off for a holiday, snow day etc. they seem to act up more than if they are in school. Don't ask me why, but this what I have gotten from my kids when teaching classes.
Bob :asian:

[muayThaiPerson]

Be their friend and win their heart. Theyll listen and will be fun to be with

[tonbo]

Be *authoritative*, not *authoritarian*.

What's the difference? Well, someone "authoriTATIVE" will tell kids what they should and shouldn't do in class.....and tell them *why*. The "authoriTARIAN" tells people to do things because he/she said so.

Kids will respect you just fine if you lay out the boundaries for class, tell them WHY they need to do these things, and if you enforce them. For the most part, kids work well within boundaries--they just need to know what those boundaries are.

Be their friend, but don't be afraid to enforce your rules. For example, if you tell a kid that they will have to sit out if they are not paying attention, make them sit out if they are caught. You don't have to yell, or threaten, just remind. You can talk with them after class and explain why you did what you did, and you can still be "cool" with them. Don't embarrass anyone, just apply the law equally and evenly.

Kids can be really fun to teach, as long as you have fun with them.....just let 'em know that, while in class, it is *your* rules...

Peace--

[Nightingale]

what they tell new teachers:

day one: lay out the rules and explain why

week one through four: take no *****. however, every time you reprimand a kid, explain why, and have them explain it back to you in their own words.

week five: you can start relaxing.

week seven: chill out.

you need to tell them the rules so they know what's expected. then you need to enforce them regularly, so kids know you will. This is the time that they will test you. when they're done testing you, then you can chill out, because you've established discipline, and the kids will respect you for following through on what you say.

[KenpoTess]

I agree with all of the above.. :) Being a mother it's kinda difficult for me to deal with the kids as I, maybe, expect more. I watch the interaction with the college kids teaching them and see the buddy relationship and how that works.. One of our instructors in particular is the buddy.. yet he's also the disciplinarian.. the other night one 4 yr olds Father (who's also a student) was watching as his son acted out.. he went onto the floor.. took his son to the 'buddy instructor' and had him discipline him!
It's all dependant on personalities I think, When to be strong and when to play.. these little kids look up to the instructors.. emulate them and when the instructors are disappointed in the kids.. well the kids know it and try even harder..
I prefer to work with adults.. that's just me.. :)
good luck and try to enjoy yourself :)

*To All Instructors*
If you're not a patient person it's going to be difficult to teach anyone.. so take a good look at your own personality and before you jump on someone.. maybe it's something in yourself you can change.. it's working for me :)

With Respect..
Tess

[Eraser]

A HUGE Thanks to all that have given some advice.. its getting better each time now that I attend the Junior class.. there are a few students that are warming up to me.. and well there is the misbehaver that i have to give heck to somtimes.. but.. like you guys stated.. i tell him why..
So thanks again.. now the real challenge is remembering all their names.. hehehehehehe

;)

[FUZZYJ692000]

Eraser, try not to stress too much on how much the kids warm up to you in the begining. I realized that in our class that the ones that take the longest to warm up to you are the younger ones. They tend to have their favorites and when another person works with them then it is even harder to keep their attention. Most of the time if they get out of line just a stern voice and a mean look are plenty, especially for ages 5 and below. If that doesn't work, well, for the younger kids standing in the corner is a pretty good punishment. The older kids though they normally stay within their bounds, but push-ups are a wonderful thing. Don't get me wrong, we do play/free time with the kids. Mostly on Fridays and also depending on how their performance in class was for the week too. I have to agree with Tess, if the kid messes up they know it and they want to please you so that you're not disappointed in them. Your best weapon though is patience, patience, and patience. Good luck.:asian:

[Rob_Broad]

My favorite tool for working with children is Duct tape. when the little buggers get out of hand tape to the wall upside down or better yet tape them to the ceiling fan.

Taping a child is a great deterrent, it is just like shooting a seagull in your field, the other birds won't come around whenthey see it. Children won't misbehave whenthey see Johnny spinning around on the ceiling fan turning green.

[Eraser]

Rob,

Duct tape!! It never even crossed my mind.. I will have to make a trip to the local dollar store and stock up...
Keep em coming guys and gals..

;)

[Rob_Broad]

If youare going to use duct tape, have fun. At the dollar store they have a wide variety of colors, red, blue, green, yellow, black, white, not just the regular silver.

[Eraser]

ooooooooooo color co-ordination... even more fun.....
I can bind and gag them up by rank...
(is the gag, going a bit too far... or should i just stick to the tape??)
Thanks... ;)

[Rob_Broad]

Don't gag them, let them scream, it makes the other children behave more.

[Eraser]

Gotchya... Screaming = Good !!

Thanks..



Actually.. Tonight's class at the new school went well.. 5 young lads showed up.. and they were wonderful.. no trouble makers.. well at least not yet!! (crossing fingers)

I even made a buddy!! :D

[Rob_Broad]

Originally posted by Eraser

Gotchya... Screaming = Good !!

Thanks..



Actually.. Tonight's class at the new school went well.. 5 young lads showed up.. and they were wonderful.. no trouble makers.. well at least not yet!! (crossing fingers)

I even made a buddy!! :D

Did Gou show up? He is the same size as most children so he would be easy to miss.

[D.Cobb]

Man anyone that teaches kids deserves a medal. I like kids, but trying to teach them is like a nightmare come true. I used to do it quite regularly when I was training in American Kenpo, but these days, thankfully, I don't have to.

Again, GOOD FOR YOU!
--Dave

:asian:

[D.Cobb]

Originally posted by Rob_Broad

Don't gag them, let them scream, it makes the other children behave more.

Mr. Broad, you are an absolute inspiration to us all. From now on, I will endeavour to ignore GOU's advice and only follow yours.
You are THE Guru!!:asian:


--Dave

[Rob_Broad]

Originally posted by D.Cobb



Mr. Broad, you are an absolute inspiration to us all. From now on, I will endeavour to ignore GOU's advice and only follow yours.
You are THE Guru!!:asian:


--Dave

I can feel my head swelling as I read your comment.

You should see my training facility of the future. A larger wheel like you see in a hamster cage for a child or two to run on to generate electricty. Gets them in shape, and helps keep the costs down as well. It will have velcro walls and the backs of their uniforms will be be velcro as well, when a child acts up, BAM! stick them to the wall. And the best part is the parents will be in a sound proof room so they can't disturb the class.

Man I can't wait for the future!

[Eraser]

Rob...

Gou was at my class.. dang .. and I missed him... and here i thought that the kid with the hairy legs was just a mature 9 yr old... hehehe

p.s love the velcro idea.. dang man.. you have so many idea's.. so how ever will you find the time to implement them???

chow..

Eraser

[D.Cobb]

Originally posted by Rob_Broad



I can feel my head swelling as I read your comment.

You should see my training facility of the future. A larger wheel like you see in a hamster cage for a child or two to run on to generate electricty. Gets them in shape, and helps keep the costs down as well. It will have velcro walls and the backs of their uniforms will be be velcro as well, when a child acts up, BAM! stick them to the wall. And the best part is the parents will be in a sound proof room so they can't disturb the class.

Man I can't wait for the future!

I am on bended knee. I bow before you!!:asian:
Don't look upon me, I'm not worthy

When I grow up, I wanna be just like Rob:rofl:

--Dave

[Eraser]

*Eraser... takes out fishing line.. and reels Rob in from floating in the air.. brings his a** back down to earth...* LOL...

WoW.. D.Cobb.. those are some nice things to say to someone.. lol....
So RoB.. how much are you paying him???????????????

[lifewise]

I have witnessed this first hand.

Want children to pay attention, want them to be under control, ask Gou to attend the class with them!!!!

Once he puts on his funky colour spectrum glasses, the children are in awe and follow along as if in a trance!

:)

[lifewise]

Originally posted by Rob_Broad



Did Gou show up? He is the same size as most children so he would be easy to miss.

What is it with you and height Rob? :confused:

Maybe it's time to measure up? :rofl:

[Rob Broad]

I just really like particiapting in this thread. maybe one of the mods could move it somewhere more appropriate and we could come up with more ingenious ways of keeping cildren in line.

[kenpo tiger]

Rob,

Kids will do what is age appropriate. My little guys - 4 yr olds - have little or no attention span, but being spontaneously nutty always works to recapture their attention when it wanders. Same with the 5 to 7 yr olds. The juniors require only my walking over to them or their group and standing there with my hands behind my back, watching and not saying a word. KT

[OC Kid]

Rob Rob Rob you still using duct tape??/ This is the new millenium try using Velcro jeessshhh...



Actually I found you can be stern with them. I :

Keep them busy the entire class

Be professional


Dont get personal you are not their parent or freind or psych

Make it fun , I am stern but I crack jokes in the class to make them laugh and keep it interesting

Remember kids take or think differently and they report to their parents. I hate explaining things to over reactive overly sensitive parents whose kids are overly sensitive and over react.

[Rob Broad]

This thread is really nothing more than a creative vent thread. Eraser and I were joking about creative ways to handle kids in an IM service so she started the thread,a nd we had some fun with it. I was hoping it could still be used for fun.

I am quite familiar with instructing children, andone of my common jokes is the Duct tape, they all know I am joking, so it is great fun.

[kenpo tiger]

This thread is really nothing more than a creative vent thread. Eraser and I were joking about creative ways to handle kids in an IM service so she started the thread,a nd we had some fun with it. I was hoping it could still be used for fun.

I am quite familiar with instructing children, andone of my common jokes is the Duct tape, they all know I am joking, so it is great fun.
I do helicopters with some of the little ones at the end of class as a reward for good behavior. Something about turning a little one upside down and spinning them around causes terminal giggles.

Just as an aside, if one of them is polite and complimentary to their partner/classmates, we usually make a point of thanking them for it. We're not a traditional school with 'sir' or 'ma'am', but some of them do it anyway and it's nice to see that they have manners. KT

[Rob Broad]

I do helicopters with some of the little ones at the end of class as a reward for good behavior. Something about turning a little one upside down and spinning them around causes terminal giggles.



I am seeing a correlation between helicopter and duct taping the child to the ceiling fan. You do it as a reward, I see it as a reard to me for not killing the little imp.

[Lisa]

All that duct tape? doesn't it get expensive? Just use their belts, it is cost effective and makes a colorful design when more than one child is swinging from the ceiling fan!

[Rob Broad]

All that duct tape? doesn't it get expensive? Just use their belts, it is cost effective and makes a colorful design when more than one child is swinging from the ceiling fan!

Very good idea. I get my Duct tape a the dollar store, and I can usually tape up 12 kids per roll. so it is very cost effective.

I imagine with will expensive velcoing an entire wall, but it should be worth the money.

[Lisa]

I imagine with will expensive velcoing an entire wall, but it should be worth the money.
Yes a velcro wall could also be part of the belt testing. Throw the kid on it at one end and have him peel and stick his way to the other. ;)