The Benefits of Working With Children
It's all a blessing
Anyone who has ever worked with children can admit that there are many joys and rewards received as a result. This past week, I was in a room with up to 10 preschoolers at any given time during VBS at my church. It has been a long time since I spent so much time with that many. I had an absolute blast with them. Whether you are working with many or a few, there are many rewards to working with children. Yes there are times when it gets hectic and caos breaks out; one kid (or 2) is crying, one is on the potty, and yet another is climbing on the table. But there are times in which things calm down and that is when you see it, that smiling face looking up at you.
It hurts to see a child cry, but when you kiss that ouchy all gone or give that beloved blankey, you absolutely melt at the look on the child's face. That little look that says "Thank you" when words can't or the little head that lays on your shoulder and you know that you have just made that child's day. You have made a difference by making the child more comfortable.
As crazy as it sounds, there is even joy to be felt in the caos of trying to get them to sit down for a story or craft time. There are moments when you wonder if they are even paying attention to you (and sometimes they're not) but when a child repeats back what you just said with a smile on their face, you've made a difference. You have a sense of accomplishment because you have just planted a tiny seed for whatever you are teaching to take root and begin to expand in meaning in a child's mind. When that child just stares at you and smiles because you have just hung their picture on the wall, you are building self esteem and confidence in the child.
When it's time to leave, that child turns around, gives you a big hug, and says "See ya morrow!", you know that you made a difference in that child's life in some way. You should be proud of yourself because everything little thing you did has paved the way for that child to become a stronger, more confident adult. You may never know the true impact you made, but it is especially rewarding when the children become old enough to return and tell you what an impact you made on their life all those years ago.
So remember this next time you have the opportunity to work with children of any age, you may be the only positive influence that child gets. Your one positive influence could be that one that helps that child become something great in life, and that my friend is reward in itself.