What time do your children go to Rainbows / Beavers?

[elevenplusdilemma]

We're starting a new Rainbows unit and the meetings will be held on a weekday from 6-7pm. Initial feedback is that it's too late for the youngest girls (they start at age 5).
The problem is finding volunteer adults that could do an earlier time; realistically 6pm is the earliest we can start for those who have to get home from work and have enough time to set up the activities etc.
TBF, when my children were that age, bath / bedtime started at 6-6:30 so I do understand.
Would this time be too late for your 5/6/7 year olds?

Beavers is 5- 615 but is was 5.30-645 which I felt was too late when he first started but I still have it a go one night a week isn't too bad.

Rainbows is 5.30-6.30. It’s ok for DD5 but tricky with DS2 who often falls asleep in the car for pick up

Ours is 6- 7.15
I would struggle with earlier getting them fed and homework done etc.

I think ours was 5pm - 6pm because they all used to follow on from one another. Brownies 6pm - 7:30pm then Guides from 7:30pm - 9pm.

6pm - 7pm would have been easier for feeding them, and my children don't go to bed before 8pm anyway.

My daughter's Rainbows is 6-7. I like that time. She has dancing at 4.30 another day and that always seems such a rush to get to but getting ready and out to Rainbows is always much calmer.

6-7pm here too, it is on later side as usually asleep by 7.30 but like a PP, homework, feed and bathe before the session so then it is reading and bed when home. End up with a slightly later night but we don't mind for once each week

All of our local groups start before 5:30. Shame because it excludes most children with 2 working parents.

When mine did Rainbows, I think it was 6-7pm. It was fine for dd as we didn't usually even have dinner until 7. It was more an issue when I had to take baby ds along as 20 minutes there and back in the car, plus waiting around in the car park, was too much for a baby. I suspect they are trying to be inclusive of all types of families. There are lots of parents who don't finish work until 5/5:30 so wouldn't be able to get their dc to an earlier session. I know I couldn't have.

Ours in 6:30-7:30, it’s way too late for DS as it takes him a while to wind down afterwards and it’s a school night. We would struggle to get him there earlier though, and he loves it.

Beavers is 5:30 to 6:45, on a Friday.

Our Rainbows is 6-7. We have four year olds. They seem to cope just fine.

My DD's Rainbows unit runs from 18:30 to 19:30 and nobody has ever had any issues with the time of the session.

That's late for rainbows imo
My child went to a 5pm to 6pm one. Much better. Though a pain for tea time as always hungry before and couldn't wait to eat after.

Theres always wind down time required after so 7pm finish is too late for 4/5 yo in my view but also depends on what time they need to be up and started

Most Rainbows and beavers clubs around my area run from 6 to 7 pm. My just turned 6 year old son attends a club that runs 5-6pm. It’s a total pain time wise as it’s a 15 minutes drive. He attends swimming lessons one night a week at 7pm but has a shower and his pjs put on there then straight home for snack, teeth brushing and dinner. If parents complain just point out you can’t get volunteers earlier and they are welcome to volunteer so it can run earlier.

Rainbows 5.30-6.30. Beavers 5-6.15.

6-7 would actually be better as easier to find time to feed them properly before.

My ds goes to cubs at 5.15-6.15 which is fine. My dd has just started at rainbows and it is 6-7pm which I am finding too late. They send photos to us and she always looks half asleep and it's effecting her being up and ready for school the next day. She is only 4 though. I will probably pull her out, the only thing holding me back is that we have been on the waiting list since she was born!

Thanks everyone for your replies - seems there's a mix of what time suits different people best and whatever we go for, we won't please everyone

I think that's exactly right - people will adapt to the time you choose. My son does Beavers later than we would ideally like but he really enjoys it and it doesn't kill us to be a bit flexible one night a week

Beavers 5:15-6:15. Cubs 6:30-8:00 (which was hard work when DS1 was 8). I’m lucky that the childminder will drop DS2 to Beavers.

I run my rainbow unit from 4.30-5.30. squirrels next door is the same time.

My 5 year old DS couldn't manage it, but some of his clas mates are in my unit and are tired, but cope.
We run our units back to back and have younger girls in the later units with no issues.
Depends on the child I guess. A parent who knows their 5 year old can't cope at 6pm just won't sign them up.

On our local District website, the earliest Beavers is 5 - 6.30 and the latest runs 6 - 7.30..
Most seem to be 1hr 15mins and most start either 5.45, 6. or 6.15.

Beavers are 6 - 8 yr olds.

Squirrels (4 - 6 yr olds) are just starting up - one runs as more of an 'after school' type time at 4. The other two start at 5.

I realise Rainbows is between the 2 Scout Section age groups.

My 5 year old DD goes to Rainbows from 7-8pm on a Friday night. It's her second year but don't think she'll be back for a third. Seems too expensive for what it is. Although we are very limited with options where we live and she does love it. Hmmm.

You won't please everyone. It's either too early for working parents or too late for kids with early bed routines.

Go with what works for you.

Our local group is Tuesday 5-6 then Brownies is afterwards 6.15-7.45.

Our Beavers group is 6.15 til 7.30. I did find it too late when ds1 started as I also had younger ds2 and being single, it meant both hadca later night. It's doable though, we'd just go straight hone, wash teeth bed within 10 minutes.