I. Workplace Safety
Recently, I have been lucky enough to get the chance to volunteer at the elementary school where my aunt works; South Jackson Elementary. Even though I'm so used to being around people older than myself, it wasn't difficult at all to bond with the kids and not feel strangely out of place. I can pretty much get along with anyone. Anyway, something I was actually thinking about frequently throughout the day was about how fragile a child's psyche is. It wasn't hard for me to edit my language for obscenities, and that sort of thing...but it definitely occured to me that if you work frequently with children (anyone younger than...11? sounds like a good place to draw the line.), you have to be careful that you don't accidentally influence them in negative ways. Immidiately you think, okay all I have to do is not curse or say anything relative to sex/drugs/explicit violence/etc. It's not as simple as that. You have to make sure that you're not giving any of them the "wrong" idea about something, i.e. something that they're not mature enough to understand, or something that might harm their psychological development. Sometimes all it takes is one thing, one time, one slip. They're the future, not us. That's why it's so important.
II. Safety & Health In The Workplace
The website given on the blog wasn't particularly helpful concerning the above when you're in a workplace that also has children for whom you are also responsible for, besides yourself. Sanitation, I think, is the main concern when working around a lot of kids (note: these examples are coming specifically from a school setting) because, not only are schools breeding grounds for colds and other illnesses that are easily spread (amongst themselves, and potentially to yourself)...but sometimes a school may be under-funded, and as such its bathrooms, lunchrooms, etc. might be poorly maintained. Another main concern is maintaining complete and utter awareness of the little ones you're responsible for. Keep track of them, children are naturally curious and can easily get seriously injured accidentally in so many ways. I speak from experience, let's just say I wasn't born right-handed. Johnny Depp once said that, "Living with young children is like hanging around with miniature drunks," and that just about sums it up. Drunks can't always take care of themselves, they trip and fall, they bump into things... though older kids are a little better, like they've "sobered up" more, to stay with his simile. That doesn't mean that they still can't injure each other or you; or spread colds and such easily.
III. While I'm on the subject, I'll elaborate upon the importance of tolerance. Specifically, tolerating children, both younger and older...and the ones in-between. Some people are just naturally in tune with their paternal/maternal instincts, and they not only don't mind taking care of kids, but often enjoy it and find it easy. Then there's also some people who just don't have the patience for it, some who are in-between but careless...not everyone is the same. The same goes with people you have to cooperate with in the workplace, no matter how old they are. They still need, and deserve; to be tolerated. If not only for the sake of getting the job done, but also to consider them as someone you could come to get along with easily. It goes both ways, they need/deserve yours, and you; theirs.
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