How would you respond if a child became physically aggressive with you?
As a Youth Worker, you are responsible for children and youth, many of whom lack guidance when it comes to appropriate emotional responses. The interviewer wants to feel confident that you will maintain a calm environment whenever possible, and that you can handle altercations with care and compassion.
If you have worked with high-risk youth in the past, show that you understand the importance of being on guard in case aggressive behavior occurs. If you can, provide a story-based example from the past. Choose an example that highlights your ability to manage physical aggression.
"When I worked at an education-based agency without proper training, nor prior experience working with kids from violent backgrounds, a 9-year-old boy picked up a chair and threw it at me. I ended up with injuries to my face and hands. He then jumped from desk to desk, ripping down all the kids' artwork from the walls. With no help around, I realized it was important to remember mental health issues were at issue here, and I needed to show compassion, despite how scary the situation was. So, I ignored his behavior, I hit play on the stereo and started to play some classical music, grabbed a book from the teachers' desk and started to read it out loud. Remarkably, the music and the book calmed him down. By the time the teacher returned, the boy was sitting on the floor with a smile on his face, intently listening. When I finished the book, this boy stood up, grabbed my hand, and asked if we could play outside."
"I have training and experience, and today handle aggression much differently than when I started out. I have learned to see and assess a situation and try to catch clues before a situation escalates. I feel comfortable handling such situations now, and my education has prepared me well. However, there is always more to learn, and I'll always seek more training and experience, and am looking forward to learning hands-on in a healthy work environment. I also make sure that I know the policies and safety procedures of my place of work as clearly as I can."
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Anonymous Answer
I will act quickly and calmly speak and explain to him to protect me and protect him from doing harm.
Rachelle's Feedback
It's important to protect the student, yourself, and the other students. This is a good point. I have reworded for clarity.
"If a child became physically aggressive with me, I would act quickly, remove them from the presence of other children, and try to calm them down by speaking evenly and with authority. I must defuse any situation so that the child, other children, and myself are not harmed."
