I used to work with mainstream kids in an afterschool care for a
while, aged about 7 year olds...now I work with special kids that
are between 6 - 11.
For mainstream kids, I find the thing most difficult to get used to
is the noise. Coming from a mostly stationed in office background,
the noise is like an entire massive nestful of birdlings chirping
in very loud and high pitched decibels... after work, I always
appreciate the silence!
With my special kids, they are quieter and more affectionate.
Still, Its normal to get frustrated at times with the things that
kids do. They are at the age they want to test their boundaries
just to see what effect it will cause. Mostly with a firm approach,
they will learn that you don't take nonsense from them. There are
days when I finish work and feel so totally tired from CONSTANT
VIGILANCE cos you have NO IDEA what those little hands can do when
you just keep your eyes off for a while! The constant hyperactivity
to match the kids can also wear you down. But I guess the thing is
whatever they do, its NEVER personal. That helps 
!
I guess the biggest difficulty is when some parents expect you to
be teacher, cleaner, parent, bouncer, maid all at once, when really
all you have to do is to be superwoman juggling all the kids in one
hand, while trying to wipe the mouth of one other kid with the
other hand, and your feet goes to accompany another kid to the
toilet. Did I mention 1 eyeball is monitoring that the kid in the
corner is doing his homework, and the other eyeball is roving
around here and there?
It is hard not to open your hearts to kids when you work with them.
They bring a lot of laughter to my everyday life. They can be so
funny, so smart, and really let you look at things in many
different ways. They can grow up SO fast, change so much, in the
course of your contact with them.
Sorry for the long post. Really I have made the switch to working
with kids in the last.. 2 - 3years. And find it the best decision
I've ever made.
