But why? Why do they yell and run around?

Here's another part of the equation.

There is almost nothing for kids to do at this place.

There is a big area full of LEGO, but when I say full, what I really mean is there are more pieces there than at some sites I've seen. There are no minifigs, there are no specialty pieces, and there's no rug or table to sit and build at. It's a round table about 18 inches high with a big hole in the middle where all the LEGO is stored. There isn't a flat surface to build on or a table to sit at to collaborate. So most of the time, the kids aren't really enjoying it. They just do it 'cause there isn't much else to do.

The dramatic play (think house or restaurant or whatever) area has some furniture and a couple shredded dolls. There is no fake food. A few dishes with chewed edges are over there. A small table with one chair. Mostly what they do is toss little pieces of paper at each other or chase around. The area is against a wall toward the back, and isn't visible from most of the rest of the room. Some of the tween girls build a little fort out of the furniture and then sit on the floor behind it, next to the wall, where no one can see them. They sit and gossip. It's rare for them to finish their little talk session without at least one of them in tears, they can be awfully snotty.

Of course this should not be happening. Unless a child is in the bathroom, they aren't supposed to be out of sight of the adults. You'd think that would be obvious, wouldn't you? And yes, I have brought it up. I also walk over to that area and move furniture, saying, "We need to be able to see you."

The answer is always, "But Mary lets us do it!"

She does, too. They can do pretty much anything they feel like doing, she wants them to like her and feels like saying no to their behaviors might upset them.

::sigh::

There is a reading area. Several rugs against a wall and a bookcase. It seems that some books were donated by various people. I couldn't help noticing there were a few John Grisham titles in the mix and a couple romance novels of the, er, warmish variety, so I pulled them out and gave them to Candice. She had no idea those were there, of course.

::sigh again:::

There is an area to build with blocks. The blocks are dented and sometimes splintery on the ends. They're dirty, too. Several boys play there, as it's really the only construction stuff (except for LEGO) available. They fight over certain pieces. Instead of building on the rug that's shoved into that corner, they build on top of the wide cart/table where the blocks are stored. So when their towers fall, it makes a hell of a lot of noise.

I brought the red plastic cups for the kids to build with over summer. I'll be taking my bin back to school with me, but will leave whatever cups are still intact at the site. I'll get my manager person to buy me more.

I also brought some connectors that are used to connect fun noodles together. Found the connectors at Goodwill. The kids seem to enjoy using them, but I have to talk to them every time about not whacking each other with the noodles.

I also brought the dominoes. Many kids have done chain reactions over summer, they're riveted by it. I can remember feeling the same way as a kid, actually. And it's still fun to watch them on YouTube.

With the exception of the paint for the painted paper we did at the beginning of the summer, I have furnished all the supplies we've used. I've visited Goodwill at least once a week all summer. I went to Sprawlmart this morning and got some hemp and some beads so we can make dream catchers tomorrow.

The art area doesn't have much to offer, either. The kids have no paper, no pencil sharpener, very few pairs of scissors (which is weird because I contributed about 10 pairs from the 'our school is being bulldozed communal bin' at the beginning of the summer and now they're... well I don't know. They're somewhere besides the little bin in the art area.

There are no watercolor paints, no stencils, no construction paper, no pens, no erasers. There are a few crayons and a few markers. There are a couple drawing books, which would work better if there were pencils, a sharpener, and you know, some damn  paper! 

I understand that this gang is sort of destructive/wasteful, but the stuff I've brought in this summer, after a little discussion, has been mostly left alone. Most kids aren't destructive on purpose, instead they're just a little thoughtless. They're on a headlong dash of creativity and unless someone teaches them to notice the path of destruction behind them, they won't.

So one goes to the recycle bin, pulls out the unused paper the kids put in and says, "Hey you guys, I know when you're trying to clean things up in a hurry so we can go outside that sometimes things get put in the recycling when they shouldn't. Could you please make sure you don't put your blank paper in here?"

Easy. And I haven't called anyone out, either. Blame isn't the issue. Teaching them to take care of our stuff is the point.

Same with the construction paper. Make a bin or box for the construction paper that's only missing a corner or edge.

"This can be re-used. Please put it in this box instead of the recycling. Then, if you only need a little piece for your project, you won't have to start a whole new sheet."

Along with that, I teach them not to cut something out of the center of a piece of paper. I show them how much more use we can get out of something when we start on one side and use it logically.

This isn't difficult. Yes, you have to pay attention and you may have to talk to the children more than once to help them understand, but really. Give them things to use! How are they going to learn to use our resources if they can't use them at all? When you summarily say, "No. You used up too much paper last week so you can't have any more," you're acting like an overbearing jerk.

THEY ARE KIDS!!!

And although the organization would probably eventually ask you why you're using so much ____, most of the time they just buy whatever I ask for.

So those are some of the reasons kids are out of control at this site.

Not enough choices for them indoors or out.
The things they do have aren't in good repair or are filthy because they rarely wash their hands. There is a huge sandbox outside, and instead of using the sprinkler to dampen it a few times a day, it's a dusty pit. The play structure is being used unsafely (of course) and the kids are ignored as they stand on top of the monkey bars. Unless someone feels ambitious and tells them to get down. But then the next time, that same staff person says nothing.

Yeah, I tried at the beginning of summer. The kids looked at me and said (go ahead... guess...)

"But Mary lets us do it!"