[nobe-l] childcare and supervision of kids

[Ashley Bramlett]

Hello,
Thank you. It was Brandy who wrote the article; I was trying to remember her 
name!

I realize volunteering in which I'm doing now is different than teaching. 
Someone has set up the schedule and activities.
However, I did find a camp site to be a volunteer assistant which seems to 
be more open minded than ones in the past.
A big challenge seems to be knowing who kids are and where they are. They 
are grouped at tables but that can vary, although not very much.
I've asked them to tell me their names as they approach me to get my 
attention, and most tell me who they are.
They are accomodating by letting me bring in some of my games which are 
adapted for a blind person such as my uno cards.

As to the child care job, there would be accomodations in place. I know that 
kids will not know who I am or how to interact with me and this is something 
I'd have to explain to new kids as they come in.
I'm not sure what rules they would need to follow with me that they do not 
already follow in that setting.
There is a lot of flexibility in what activities go on at the drop in day 
care. I just had a conversation with the director of the place. I clarified 
what kids were doing the room and what staff members could do and were 
expected to do. She indicated it was a lot of hands on play and interaction. 
Leading small group games such as duck duck goose were up to the staff 
members in the room.

I know what you mean Heather about needing flexibility to incorporate 
accomodations and techniques in the setting. I think this is why I was 
discouraged in the past and frustrated with the kids and those volunteer 
positions did not work out.
So, in  a childcare job, I would definitely consider the setting and how 
much flexibility  I had in incorporating nonvisual strategies.

Ashley