The Adult Leader's Guide to Working with Children's Groups

Maybe you are the help-mom at your daughter's preschool. Perhaps you volunteered to help at a field trip the museum. You might be a den leader, teacher or soccer coach. Whatever the situation, if you are in charge of a group of kids, even for one hour, you are facing a formidable task. How can you keep the complaining and injuries to a minimum without falling back on corporal punishment?

Know What to Expect

Do a little research on the age group you will be dealing with. Ask for a roster and review the list a few times so that you are better able to put a face with the names. If you are particularly bad with names, prepare nametags. If you have a child that is in the group, you may be tempted to ask them for some background on the different kids. Only go this route if you know it will not color your judgment.

Be Prepared

Review basic first aid procedures. Make sure you will have access to emergency contact information for every child in your care. Have a few tricks in your back pocket to salvage the event in case of surprise weather or unexpected delays. Age-appropriateness is the key. Preschoolers on a broken-down bus might enjoy singing a song and learning a dance that goes with the lyrics. Teenagers in the same situation would probably prefer to watch a DVD.

Let the Kids Know What to Expect, Too

For many children, uncertainty leads to frustration. Let your group know the schedule for the day. Write the agenda down and display it if you can. Unless you enjoy two hundred repeats of the phrase "how much longer," set a stopwatch or timer so that everyone knows when you will be moving to the next task.

Don't Make Excuses

Refrain from telling the group that you are inexperienced or nervous. They don't care.

Enlist Help

If you are convinced that you can't handle the situation, get another adult or even a teenager to help. Being able to step out of the room for just a few moments can help you relax and return to the classroom with patience and confidence.

Have Fun

One of the best parts about working with kids is that, for a brief time, you get to be childlike yourself. You get to do crafts, sing songs and visit places. Squelch your inhibitions and try to enjoy the situation.

After the Event, Reflect

What could you have done differently to make the day more fun for the kids? Could more planning or preparation have made the event go more smoothly? Don't let this step get you down. Instead, recognize that working with children is a learning process. There is always room for improvement.