kids with behavior issues,

[Zoe Girl]

This is something at work as a situation however it is more about people and relationships. We have 50 kids about attending summer camp. 3 are on behavior contracts which means they have a folder that follows them and each activity the teacher marks how they did on their personal 3 issues such as listening to the teacher and keeping their body to themselves. One staff person is scheduled to be the middle of the day (8:30 - 3:30) as a one on one for a specific kid. Another with special needs could be with a one on one but I have just overstaffed to work with it. She does not run off or get aggressive to other children but always surprises me with something new, sigh.

We have had 2 full weeks, 4 field trips and daily issues. I am concerned about the day to day for the next 6 weeks but also for the overall picture and larger questions of how to care for kids with serious behavior issues. D (the one on one for behavior child) has missed 2 field trips out of the 4. He pushed teachers and I am holding a very hard line on this. I think he was finally expelled from before and after care last year due to regular issues of aggression. I think they just tried to keep him in for the grandmother but it was likely almost weekly aggressive incidents. A (the special needs kiddo) has had 2 times where I called mom to pick her up in 2 weeks. Since dad passed away suddenly a few months ago mom cannot always do this but Friday the grandma was available and A cried hysterically when she got picked up early (not listening and then pushing a teacher). So she knows what not to do, she knows how to ask for what she needs (going outside is hard for her medically) and she knows I will follow through since she has been in my program all school year. The 3rd kid was a surprise. By day 2 I told him we needed a behavior plan and he knew exactly what it was, but nothing was marked on his registration forms, neither mom or grandmother told me he had behavior issues and he goes to a counselor weekly to deal with anger and aggression.

I do like these kids. I take it seriously to keep them in our programs, but I am also tired out. I am not seeing progress. I know the families that have shared programs with these kids are nice and teach tolerance but they are tired out too. Past the initial awareness that something is very wrong with a kid there is that hopeful stage where you are sure you will find the key, now we are well into the stage where I know there is not one behavior plan or adjustment (for families it includes therapy or diet or medication as well) that will make this significantly better SOON. And some kids don't get better do they,

[Tiam]

I find that behavior plan children are increasing. There is never a year without them. But the years when you have several at a time make it very hard. Is it increasing? I think it is. It is fatiguing. Thee is a burn out factor. I think it's hard, because you can expect improvement, but some kids will always have big issues. It's very hard.

[sweetana3]

What a difficult issue: Do you feel more for the teachers and other students who are the victims of the aggression ( have to see/experience it) or the child who is not getting the parental involvement and care they need? One child cannot be allowed to run a classroom with aggressive and dangerous actions and your hard line is appropriate.

[Zoe Girl]

I don't know who I feel more for, right now I am just tired in general.

I will be clear, I do not think that this is a lack of parental care in any way. It is likely combinations of organic issues and behavioral ones that have been worked with but have not gotten far. In the 2 without serious developmental delays they have both been taken or are in the process of being taken and raised by single parent grandmothers. The kiddo with developmental delays/issues has been to various DR's and works with a behavioral therapist, she has no official diagnoses. I am not sure what other resources are available, possibly individual care with some assisted funding, with the 2 boys it would probably require a diagnose and label, not something everyone jumps into. And in our care they have socialization with other kids, at least for as long as we can work with them.

[befree]

I have no advice or ideas. I have the sense that these problems seem to be much more frequent in the schools, and I often wonder about the "average" kids. There are programs for the "gifted and talented" kids, and lots and lots of programs, aides, and extra accomodations for physically, mentally, or emotionally challenged kids, but when does the teacher have time to just teach the kids in the middle? And how much fun are the other kids having on the field trips if they have to watch out for a kid who gets aggressive or dominates the whole group?

[Tiam]

I have no advice or ideas. I have the sense that these problems seem to be much more frequent in the schools, and I often wonder about the "average" kids. There are programs for the "gifted and talented" kids, and lots and lots of programs, aides, and extra accomodations for physically, mentally, or emotionally challenged kids, but when does the teacher have time to just teach the kids in the middle? And how much fun are the other kids having on the field trips if they have to watch out for a kid who gets aggressive or dominates the whole group?

It's not fun at all. As much as learning disabilities contribute to behaviors there is a great deal contribution to child behavior from parental influence.

[Zoe Girl]

Yes, I have great respect for the many grandparents or aunties and uncles who have taken over care of children. I have 3-4 families out of the 40 or so which seems high. THis does affect the kids a lot and the guardians are working hard, sometimes it is medical issues for the parent and other times they just have not gotten it together. There are many more single parents, dads and moms, more than I expected that have had a parent die. What is heartbreaking is to see the kids who have some type of effect no matter how early the great guardian steps in to raise them. That is why I go the extra mile to make sure they have child care even if I have to separate them from the group many times. Many people talk about dependance on social services and whether that is right or wrong, but for many families it comes down to the work my staff does to make sure they don't lose childcare,

I have put into place that a child who is aggressive towards staff or unprovoked aggressive towards another child will not go on a field trip. I am not going to try to manage that or ask my staff to. The one child who got to go did great at our last field trip that was extremely active and some of the games could trigger his actions, but we talked ahead of time and he made it. I guess that is something showing improvement.