The past two summers, I have had the joy of being a teacher's aide at a summer camp for kids aged 5-12, and there are so many things I love about the job. I honestly don't think there is anything better in the world than working with kids and this is why:
1. There's never a dull moment.
When you work with kids, it's always exciting. Someone always needs help or just wants to talk to you. It is never just sitting down and doing nothing, which I love. Things are always changing everyday as they learn new things. They really keep your day interesting.
2. It's a free workout.
I never feel more tired than I do after a long day of work. Kids have so much energy and they expect the same of you. Last week, some of them thought it would be funny to keep kicking their soccer ball over the gate, so I had to keep running to get it which saved me from having to go the treadmill later.
3. You get to be a bit of a kid again.
Especially when you're at college, it's hard to take time to just have fun. Being around kids all the time forces you to do that. They constantly want to be entertained so you have to do stuff on their level. You can act silly and play games you used to play in your childhood that you've outgrown.
4. They make you more positive.
Kids don't care if you woke up late and missed your morning coffee. They want attention and they want to have fun. Being around kids, especially the younger ones, makes me feel happier. They could be crying one minute because they fell over and running around and laughing the next. Their positive attitude is infectious and forces you to feel the same.
5. They make you more social.
Kids also don't care if you aren't good at talking to people. They will talk and talk if you ask them the right questions. When they're younger, they'll talk to just about anyone with no apprehension. At least personally, that inspires me to do the same.
6. They are more open minded.
My absolute favorite parts of talking to kids is how open minded they are. Nothing seems impossible to them, and it's so refreshing. When you ask what they want to be when they're older, they say things like professional basketball player or baby sitter. They aren't concerned with how much it will pay or the likelihood of it actually working out for them. They just want to do what's fun.
7. The joy of watching them succeed.
There is absolutely nothing better than seeing a kid do something they didn't think they could. There is so much for them to learn and being a part of that is about as fulfilling as it gets. Nothing makes me smile more than when the look on their face when they do something they thought they couldn't. I can't think of anything more joyful than that.
