Educational experience as a Rec leader

During my last four summers I have had the pleasure of being a recreation leader. This job is very fun for someone who loves working with kids such as myself. I work with kids from the ages of 8-16, so the age difference is very big. I am at a park with mostly what they call the "troubled kids" these kids are known to have attitudes, to talk back and not to listen. My first year in working with these children i didn't really think much of it and now as the summers go by i start to look at it from a teachers standpoint. Most of them are good kids deep down they just seek attention from somebody older and they love getting the reactions from their peers. However after my first year i formed a good relationship with the children and they really listen to me and take my word for things. It is a very good program to keep kids busy from 8:30-1:30 during the summer days. It is a 3 month job and it is a city job so the tax payers and parents like to see it being done right and thats how I like to think I run my playground. I have had many people come up to work with me at the playground but after each year i get assigned somebody else mainly because they don't know how to get through to these kids. Going into next summer will be my 5th straight summer there and I couldn't be happier and wish for many more to come.