Worried about working closely with kids after being "fired" from JK lunch supervision when 13?
At my church on Saturdays there runs a "respite care" for ASD children (4-12) to go too so their parents and/or non-ASD siblings can have a break from dealing with them for couple of hours. The last time my church had a Bible Camp (summer2022) someone at the church was talking to my Mom about why I didn't have a job (or something like that I can't remember what Mom told me) and she suggested I volunteer at the ASD care on Saturdays.
Back then I hadn't given it much thought but maybe in August-I think August -I might decided to actually sign up to do it but I'm kind of troubled about volunteering closely with children because I haven't done that since I "fired" when i was 13 almost 14 years old from lunch supervision in JK Room at my elementary school. Most of my contact with children was during Bible Camp (from 2002-2022 excluding 2020) were just making and pouring juice for them, and putting the snacks out for the children and cleaning up any garbage that's was on the counter from the day's activity to toss away in the garbage.
Main Story
The story is that when I was being bullied in Gr. 7 I got two jobs one of the jobs was what my sister did, 12 years before me be the lunch supervisor in the JK Room. The other job isn't part of the story but I'm still going to mention it the other lunch job was me helping the custodian collect the garbage from around the school (it was a one floor school) when everyone else was outside having a sort of "lunch recess".
Getting back to the lunch supervision that there was an adult supervisor as well in the room and her daughter and some of her daughters friends(?) sometimes came by when we're in the room. The other thing I need you to know is that I was kind of close to this one girl and each time I was in the room for Lunch after the children ate their lunch- I would play with this one girl in particular and we seem to like playing a lot with the Vintage Little Price Little People Family Castle despite not having any of the vintage Little People to go with the castle. I don't remember how we played with it but we did.
Now on the day I got fired I was playing with this one girl and we're having fun or what fun we could have because we kept getting other toys (I forgot what) been throwing at us by the "friends" of the adult supervisor's daughter and I kept throwing the toys back in their direction because we didn't want them. I got so mad by the end that I said something I now know I shouldn't have something about reaping them. But what I was unaware of until after I got up, said what I did and turned around is that the the kids who were throwing the toys now at the girl and I were some of the 4 year old girl's classmates and not the kids from earlier. So I was told to leave and the adult supervisor shut the door in my face when I was trying to apologize and such.
Conclusion
So you see with my experience with being "fired" from the JK lunch supervision is why I'm kind of unsure about being a volunteer with ASD respite centre. I mean there would be a major different between the two things for one thing I'm older now and know not to say things like that. And the other thing is I would have training on: Autism education and orientation,, crisis intervention training and First Aid and CPR training (which is what I wanted to get for ages). And another thing is I would have on-going support (whatever that means)
So I want to hear people's thoughts about this topic and if i have a right to be concerned about maybe volunteering closely with kids after being fired 20 years ago in the new year.
@Disneywoman
I do not see an issue as you posted you are grown and know what was said was wrong etc... in life we learn from errors and if we have a opportunity to reset we should take it .
@toughTiger6481
it just been a long time since I worked closely with children. Most of my other experience with children is just basically getting juice or snacks ready. Or setting the table for Pizza lunch for Bible Camp and that's not as hands-on as either lunch supervisor or an ASD respite volunteer
@Disneywoman,
things like that happen.
You learned from it and apparently didn't have the greatest supervisor at the time (sgmhe should have stepped in when kids were throwing toys).
Having said that, before you volunteer to whatever, always first ask what the group you'll be dealing will is like and what *and what not is expected of you.
@dukeofdearham
according to the website for this ASD recreational respite care " volunteers by providing in-person service to children with ASD Each shift (two shifts each month which cover 1 morning and 1 after noon both 4 hours) is different and provides opportunities to connect with clients (I'm assuming the kids are the clients), lead activities*, and connect with other volunteers"
And there will be "extensive training" for volunteers with the following :autism education and orientation, on-going support(?), crisis intervention training and First Aid/CPR training" And also "volunteers get to join "fun initiativies and projects"
*The only time I ever had to led something was for 2 high school classes. One was something to do with history and my two group mates were too busy talking about something that wasn't what we're suppose to be doing so I had to get them to work. And the other time, I was in a Home ec class -I think it was a a sociology class and I was the only one of my 3 group mates there from the beginning- I did the studying, did the work, etc - i had to have volunteers to help show it because neither of the 2 members showed up on presentation day-only I did. But my Mom said that the (male) teacher liked "being the bride"
I mean with the training i will get better training then what I had 19 years 19 years ago when I got the job orgionally with JK business (no training at all).