Elementary v. Middle School

I did a year in a peds clinic and a year at an elementary school. My personality is much better suited for the older kids.

Elementary pros: many more hugs and a lot of sweetness. Cons: they need help with everything, way too needy for me, I like it when they're a little more independent.

Jr High pros: Much more independent, able to understand instructions better, still some hugs here and there, you are starting to see who they really are. If it is a frequent flyer or someone with a really obnoxious parent, you only have to deal with them for 2 years. Cons: puberty, drama, puberty, drama, and drama. When it's a really sweet kid that you love to work with, you only have them for 2 years.

I work in a prek-8th so I experience both everyday.

Elementary: PROS: Education! I love teaching about the importance of breakfast/hand hygiene/why they need medicine when their friend doesn't. I feel much more needed, everything is a big deal, and I love being able to assure a 4yr old that they will see mom at the end of the day and she will be SO proud of them that they stayed in school the whole day! Also, parents seem to be more responsive in elementary (at least, at my school). CONS: Higher incidences of lice, GI bug, and fevers at school. These kiddos go down fast, and sometimes they don't know how to advocate enough for themselves at home and come to school too sick to be able to have a productive school day.

Middle School: PROS: Again, education! The things I focus on with this age group is hygiene/body image/safety. CONS: MUCH less receptive; I feel like I can barely get them to come see me, even when they aren't feeling well. This age group also has much more emotional/social/behavioral problems, which is not my wheelhouse (but, if that's something you'd be into, middle school is definitely the place!) Also, there seems to be a huge disconnect when trying to connect with parents.