to put DD on the waiting list for both Rainbows and Beavers?

[DrSeuss]

Just don't know what she'll fancy when we get to the right age. Obviously, we would only ever take up one of the places but how to know if she'll be a tomboy or a bit more girlie? She has a big brother so won't want for the company of boys. Is it wrong to register for both and not tell them?

What age do you need to start putting their names down?

I have put DS's name down for beavers and DD's down for rainbows. I think scouting should have remained for boys only. Most children have a mixed environment at school and it is nice for them to experience something different.

I admit I will be unimpressed if I turn up at Beavers and it is full of girls. My experience is the opposite to that of Euphemia, I find girls take things over and you get some that are annoying and all swotty and suck up-y (ok some boys are like that but fewer IME).

Oh yes, the organising.

Goblinchild, I think that depends on the expertise of the leaders involved. Leaders, both male and female, who are experienced and qualified to lead activities like canoeing, climbing, caving and so on tend to join the Scouts. The Guides just doesn't have enough leaders qualified in those areas, and it is very expensive to run those kinds of activities if you have to keep hiring in an instructor. So some girls will join the Scouts in order to do that kind of stuff.

Where we live, the comprehensive school does not run Duke Of Edinburgh, and neither does the Guides. So girls will join the Scouts so they can get their DofE.

I don't believe the Scouts should have let girls in, I don't believe Guiding should let boys in (I'm on a break at the moment because of health issues but was involved in it and I'd resign if they tried). I think both genders need a space to be themselves without having to worry about what the opposite sex thinks of them... but then I support single sex schools as well.

No of course it's not wrong.

It's not wrong to take up both places either, any mor ethan it's wrong to do ballet and football (for example).

My DD was a Rainbow (which starts at 5yo) then a Beaver (starts age 6) and now she is a Brownie and a Cub too. No one has ever told us there's any rule against it

They are very very different anyway, but IME the same child (eg my DD) may enjoy both craft stuff and songs (Rainbows) and climbing walls and rounders (Beavers). (yes I know both groups do more than that!) Also our lovely Brownie pack doesn't do camps so that's where Beavers/Cubs wins.

Sorry Goblinchild that that has been yr DS's experience . FWIW (not much probably) that's not general I don't reckon. DD is now the only girl in her Cub group and there are only a couple in Scouts. When DS2 left Beavers there were no girls. Any girls there are very much have to muck in with the boys - and are prob not that "girly" anyway (DD isn't).

thisisourtime I would put a girl's name down for RAinbows when she is about 3 as they can join from 5yo and it's v popular, For Beavers from maybe 4yo.

thisiourtime, different groups have different rules. I take kids on my waiting list from birth. But they are told up front that there is no guarentee of a place, especially if they dont live locally.

For those facing "boys only" Beavers and Cubs...If they belong to the Scout Association, then by Scout law they are co-ed. If they are not, they will be closed down if the SA finds out. Feel free to contact the SA by googling Scout Association Gillwell and asking awkward questions.

We have about 1/5th girls in our group. Most are complete tomboys, most have older brothers, and love a bit of rough and tumble. There are others that are really girlie, and would be better off in Brownies - especially those that like to colour in the lines, take an hour over their crafts, not keen of boisterous games and loud noises.

Sadly, some parents are determined that their child will be one organisation or another, rather than looking at where their personality fits best.

Id say YANBU to put her on lists for both, but you do need to look carefully at hat type of child she is...in my experience, girls with big brothers prefer Beavers because it is more active and full-on. Girls without older male siblings prefer the gentleness of Rainbows.

Unfortunately, where we live beavers does really exciting stuff like canoeing and night hikes whereasas rainbows seems to be to teach girls how to be good housewives. They had a "shopping evening" ffs. Hence my daughter want to go to beavers.

My DD will be going to Beavers if she wants to she will not have anything to do with purely girl things so that rules out Brownies etc.

Clary, do you think she'll still not be that girly at 16?
DS is an explorer scout and things started to go pear-shaped for him when the girls turned 13 or so and puberty struck them.

Interssting re brothers, my DD has two brothers (one older, one younger but very boisterous). She has always played with boys as much as girls.

That's why I think the female-only side should shake up their own idea and diversify. You don't need an expert to do night hikes or camping.

I think it depends on the leaders. I never wanted my brownies to be fifties housewives. However - we did ASK them what they wanted to do and tried to empower them a little bit more that way. If they wanted cooking then we would incorporate it.

Goblinchild who can say. I really meant that there aren't many girls in the groups here so it's join in or die.

But she's not quite 10 so it's hard to tell. I had to really persuade her into a dress for a wedding t'other week. Luckily it was a hand-on as I can't see her wearing it again

I have put my DD's name down on both too - and on a total of 5 groups - and have been told "her name should have gone down at birth" She is 5

One of the beaver groups I've been told will not actually let me know she has got a place as she is a girl!!
In an ideal world I would love her to go down the Rainbow/Brownie route but there are No places for these where I am and alot of girls have joined my DS's Cubs/Scouts as they are finding Brownies/Guides boring?
Over the yrs I have put my DC's names down for a variety of things and get v annoyed as to never getting a) confirmation of this and b) any updates!

Two many children and too few leaders alas. I put my DD's name down for two years and then when I called up to check I was told that the unit was to close. So I volunteered and that's how I became a brownie leader. Not many people have the time or inclination to help out any more. Changing patterns of life and careers - not to mention people nervous about working with children and all the health & safety issues. it is quite a responsibility - but I really miss it. Loved those little brownies - cheeky little monkeys!