Question: whats it like to work with children with problems?

Alice Jones Bartoli answered on 13 Jun 2011:

It’s a lot of fun (i think). It’s not for everyone, but I find it really good fun. Children with problems are pretty much like children without problems (they like playing on computers, football, lego), except there are things that they have more difficulties with. Most of the children that I work with have problems with their behaviour, they might get angry or frustrated very easily, or they might really hate to try things that they think they might not do well, and it’s our job to try and help these children to change the way they react to these things.

It’s very rewarding to see children’s behaviour change for the better, and it’s also brilliant to hear parents and teachers talk about how much of a change they have seen and how it’s made their lives better too. However, it can be tough, waiting for a child to calm down from something that’s made them upset or angry, or trying to persuade another child to come and work with you on something and have them just say NO can be tough – you need a whole world of patience, and understanding about what’s going on for these children that’s behind the behaviour.