Forums

I am working IT support at a small college. I am new at this job. A faculty member has a 8 year old kid who has been dumped off to play in my computer lab. It's driving me nuts! Today he decided to SING to himself!!!! Should I call the Community Life person or just deal? I was also wondering if I could ask a co-work how to make friends with the boy. Really I would love for him to go away AND I bet there is a reason that my co-workers seem not to be bothered by him. Maybe I should learn his name and birthday. Any ideas?

Jake

flexiblefine's picture

You're new, so the best thing to do is to talk with your co-workers and see if this is the usual thing. Has the kid been there all summer? Was he there last summer? Is he there all day? Is there someone the kid likes? Find out how the co-workers deal with the situation.

Complaining about faculty is probably not the best move if you want to keep your job. Depending on the school and the person, faculty may have all kinds of influence you don't want to feel.

How busy is the computer lab? Maybe you could find something for him to do on the computer? Does he bring anything to help occupy his time (books, games, toys, whatever)?

I doubt any 8-year-old will be quiet all day (my 7-year-old son won't), but you might do well to get to know him and his interests, so you can suggest activities for him to do that will keep him occupied. When my son is engrossed in something, the rest of the world might as well not exist.

flexiblefine
Houston, Texas, USA
DiSC: 1476

mmann's picture
Licensee Badge

The High D in me can't resist suggesting you consider the child's capabilities and delegate some of your work to him.  I know it's not going to be a popular position, considering child labor laws and all, but technically it's not labor because he wouldn't be paid, he might find it entertaining to add value to the institution employing his parent, and you might just learn a thing or two about how to delegate and follow up.

I'm just saying, consider it...

 

--Michael

jzklein's picture

flexiblefine

I like your reminder, fitting in is so important. The kid is at the college for a week about 5 times a year. He has been coming to the college for years. My co-workers like him and the students like him a lot. He has been a problem in the past, so the college agreed that the kid needed a care taker. The day that he was singing his care taker (an alumni) was not with him. I am afraid to ask my co-workers how to work with the kids and I really do need some coaching.

Yes, faculty members and their favorite students have a lot of influence...

The computer lab gets busy, we have 15 computers and a copier. Average is about 5 users and the most I have seen is 14 users. The lab server crashed, his care taker and he were using two of the four computers that were still working. I almost asked them to leave so that other could use their computers. He finds his own games to play online and he never has anything to help occupy his time, just our computers.

I talked with him the last day he was at work. I asked him when his birthday is and he responded really well. He then asked what he should do for skit night; I suggested that he tell some jokes. I know he is into video games and he likes acting.

Thanks for your reply!

Jake

RaisingCain's picture

I would 98.4% of the time defer this one the high S high C that posted first.

 Do what flexiblefine said...and I i think you'll do just great.

RC

flexiblefine's picture

My low D is stunned that anyone suggests deferring to me. :)

flexiblefine
Houston, Texas, USA
DiSC: 1476