I realize that many of my classroom stories seem a little unreal, possibly even cruel. Yet this is the reality of my day and I wouldn't restrain a "typical" child because chances are they aren't going to start kicking, biting, or spitting at me. Sometimes, like today, I'm not even sure why I'm restraining the child. I just happen to be helping another assistant sit her student out at recess. Turns out he had punched her. He was being uncooperative to say the least.
Restraining can be hard work, but today it seemed much harder than usual because it was recess. This meant that there were kids everywhere. And so, while I was navigating the child's upper body into a less threatening pose (hands behind back so he could stop hitting/scratching - while forcing him into a sitting position) and the other assistant held his legs (to keep from kicking) we had the added element of another austic child getting in between us and on top of the child we were restraining because he wanted to know what was going on. As we're telling the curiosity seeker to back off, another 5 year old jumps on my back because he figures we must be playing tackle football or something. Sheesh.
Once we got child #1 seated, child #2 off my back, and the curisosity seeker elsewhere engaged I was then tapped on the back by a student wanting to play tag with me. I told him I was a little busy. Followed by another student telling me that one of our mainstreamed kids had done a great job in art.
All I'm saying is that it was a busy 20 min :D
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