Guiders/leaders - I have a question

[BlackandWhiteCat0]

Obviously the point in guiding is to provide girl - only spaces but I’ve noticed that the leaders are allowing their own boys to be at meetings. I don’t know if they participate or not.

What’s the guidance for this?

Not a guider.
But, if they can't bring their own children, they may not be able to run the unit, and it would close...

Yeah I’ve considered that too so I do get it from that point of view.

DD has just told me they have been participating.

My daughter came with me at times when I was helping at beavers and cubs - pre girls being allowed.

No way would I have sat her quietly at the side while other kids had fun.

Brownie leader here. There wouldn't be a problem with this where we are. We also rely heavily on parents helping out sometimes. I've had to bring my daughters to a group they aren't registered to attend because of numbers. If there were more volunteers, and parents were more willing to pitch in, then this situation with leaders sons coming along would not be an issue.

Brownie leader here and I used to bring my son along when my husband hadn’t got home from work in time. It was that or the unit would have closed as no other parent would volunteer, so a no-brainer. Not ideal but there you go.

Guidance is that it is fine as far as I know. They would certainly lose leaders if they didn’t allow it. If you are a parent, maybe volunteer instead to help that leader out - and if you can’t do that then try to put a parent rota together? Anything helps.

I read the guidance and it says that it should be a temporary arrangement.
I get the volunteer aspect but at the same time it isn’t a girl only space then either. Tough one. My daughter obviously feels it’s an issue to say too :/

Cross post BatbatsBATS! Agree with every word.

(I also used to be a permanent unit helper but I am unable to now)

Well I did it for 5 years as my son was too young to leave at home alone. So not temporary. It was that or no Brownies for the girls in the unit. I like to think I made the right decision.

The sons of guiders aren't active or regular participants, which makes it different. They aren't sixers or patrol leaders, and I've never seen them take part in Taps or other ceremonial parts of the session. DS has been to loads of Guide and Brownie events when I had no childcare for him, but he'd rarely take part in activities, unless involving food!

Same turkey boots! dS would sit on the side with my phone or a book usually, but did do s’mores etc at campfires...

I think that would be fair enough if they were to entertain themselves or sit aside , but to participate In the programme I don’t feel is right or is in line with the point of Girlguiding being a female space ykwim?

My six year old attends Cubs with me often, even camps. It's the only way events can happen.

Unless you are happy to either to pay for childcare for the son, or provide it, it's a situation you will have to put up with. If I can't bring my younger child, I can't be a leader.

(We pay for her to attend by the way)

My ds is old enough to stay at home while I run my unit now, but it’s good to know you would rather he have sat at the side watching everyone else having fun when there was no option except take him with me.

It was never the first choice for him to be there, he had to come because of his dads shifts. I get that it changes the girl only setting and I would have preferred to not take him, but the weeks that he did go, the alternative option was no brownies.

My DS helps on occasion. Male helpers are allowed. One of our leaders regularly brings her son with her.

There would probably be no unit if they weren't allowed. I'm sure they'd be delighted if you would volunteer yourself instead and then the leader's son wouldn't have to come too. It's very rewarding.