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?

5:30-6:30 would be the sweet spot for me, I’ve been trying to find a Rainbows group for my 5 year old DD but they all start at 4 which is much too early for me to be able to leave work so she hasn’t been able to go.

6pm seems fine to me, my kids went to bed at 8pm at that age

It would be fine for me. I’d struggle with earlier because I’m at work myself.

6-7:15 for Beavers, we would have to drop out if any earlier. We find most other clubs or activities are to early.

When ds was at beavers it was 6-7. I couldn't have got there any earlier due to work, so an earlier start would certainly have prevented him attending.

I think it was 5-6 for ours (a few years ago). It worked well for them timing wise, but it was a nightmare for me getting them there for 5pm, with getting home from work, collecting from childminders etc. Normally I’d be collecting them from childminder at 5.30 so I had to arrange to leave work early on those days and was always in a tearing rush, especially if there were any last minute things I or the leaders had forgotten (reminder - everyone bring 5 toilet rolls / a banana / labelled wooden spoon etc!).

So I guess my point is that a 6pm start might make it possible for some kids to get there if they also have working parents who struggle to get back much before 5.30/6! You might find that some of the younger ones drop out at the last minute a bit more often - mine are at scouts now which is 7.30-9, and the 10 year old new scouts sometimes need to cry off if they’re too tired for the late night.