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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Anyone's daughter go to Rainbows?

83 replies

Scottishgirl85 · 07/02/2020 21:00

I have an almost 5 year old who has been on the waiting list for Rainbows for about a year. I checked today if she might have a place, and have been told she won't get in before turning 7 unless I become a helper, in which case she can start next term!

I went to Brownies and enjoyed it, but remember there being quite a heavy religious element, is that still the case?

Just trying to work out if it's worth me getting heavily involved in - essentially, is Rainbows a nice enough activity to commit to?

Thanks!

OP posts:
ThirstyGhost · 07/02/2020 21:44

My 5 year old has been going for a couple of months now and absolutely loves it! She's quite shy and it's really bringing her out of herself. A friend's daughter who is a Ranger helps out and there are girls from her class at school and the girl next door to us even goes too. I've never seen DD as excited as she was the first time she went to Rainbows. Not a religious focus that I've seen apart from the promise part. If your daughter is anything like mine she'll love it.

antipodes1 · 07/02/2020 21:48

My daughters rainbows and brownies are a bit religious. They have a prayer book they take home and write their own prayer to recite to the group at the next meeting. They also have church parade twice a term. I grin and bear the religious part as my girls love going and do get a lot out of it.

Passmethecrisps · 07/02/2020 21:50

My dd is seven and has just progressed from rainbows to brownies. No religious element at all in rainbows. Just craft and some games for the most part actually. She has only been at brownies a couple of weeks but no sign of any religion. She absolutely loves it

Lyricallie · 07/02/2020 21:50

A guide leader checking in. The only tiny bit of "religion" is when we sing "taps" at the end of the night which has a reference to god in it. But as PPs said they have taken references to god out of the promise and now it's generally girl's beliefs.

BluePheasant · 07/02/2020 21:52

The Rainbows promise says something along the lines of "I will think about my beliefs" rather than refer to any religion in particular which I think is great as it encompasses everything.

DD enjoys it, I think it helps her to mix with other girls not just the same group she sticks with at school. Also, I do think it's nice for girls to have the opportunity to do something that's just for girls. Even at such a young age DD has already experienced boys teasing comments, partly as there are two or three in her class with some behaviour issues but it chips at her confidence none the less. I do think some girls really come out of their shell in that environment.

Confuddledtown · 07/02/2020 21:56

My 5 year old goes to rainbows and it's no longer as religious as I remember it being when I went. I know They've changed the line in their promise "I promise I will love my god" to "I promise I will think about my beliefs" as well.

NeilTheBaby · 07/02/2020 22:00

My dd loves rainbows. I imagine it very much depends on the unit but hers always has well organised and resourced activities etc each week and it's incredibly cheap compared to other after school clubs.

DontGoJasonWaterfalls · 07/02/2020 22:04

My daughter made her Rainbows promise last month. No god - "I promise to be true to myself and think about my beliefs" or something similar. We're a very atheist family, I wouldn't let her go if it was religious.

She's loving it, it's one of the best decisions we made for her. I'm helping them do their first aid badge (I work in the emergency services) and I'm loving that too 😁

Cyberlibre · 07/02/2020 22:16

Brownie leader here! No religion with us, although we do use a church hall. The vicar visits occasionally as she likes to keep in touch with groups that use the building, and the girls are always invited to attend harvest services/ Christmas services and the parade but no obligation. We don't tend to go as leaders as guiding is already a massive commitment (we run weekly, have planning meetings termly, day trips every couple of months and between 2 and 3 overnight trips a year!) But it is so much fun. I think it is important for girls to have a space to be in a single sex environment. Ours is not all crafts, we do so much!

Savingshoes · 07/02/2020 22:30

There just simply isn't enough adult volunteers. The big waiting list is because people have very busy lives and are unable to commit to a few hours a week dedicating their time to charity organizations.
If you have the time, and register your availability it will open up space for your child and a few others.
Crafts, new friends, local trips and a whole lot of memories.

MotherofPearl · 07/02/2020 23:10

My elder DD is a Guide, having been a Rainbow and then a Brownie. I can't say how much I love Girlguiding - she's got so much out of it, and has been lucky to have really great leaders all the way through. My younger DD is currently on the waiting list for Rainbows - looking forward to her starting, though she's only 3! Grin The waiting list in my area in very long, apparently.

Eastie77 · 07/02/2020 23:28

DD started Rainbows a couple of months ago and loves it. It takes place in a CofE church hall but there haven't been any religious activities apart from an Xmas carol service.

Original poster
Scottishgirl85 · 08/02/2020 07:42

Thanks so much everyone, think I'll go for it and volunteer as a helper! Smile

OP posts:
user1487194234 · 08/02/2020 08:27

In our area they won't get into Rainbows unless they have their name down before they are 3
And if they don't get into Rainbows they probably won't get into Brownies,
Guiding is a non religious organisation
I think it always has been ,officially,but groups were often held in churches,so there was a bit of overlap,particularly in more religious times
There is a huge need for more helpers
In our area you wouldn't jump the list unless you were helping out at least once a fortnight

Catting · 08/02/2020 08:59

I'm against it because of their policy of rejecting girls who are gender non conforming, and allowing males to identify in as 'girls' which means sharing sleeping and toilet areas.

Gardening1 · 08/02/2020 09:03

I'm a rainbow leader. Not religious here, apart from the Carol service at Christmas ☺ the 'i promise I will love my god' has changed to 'I promise to think about my beliefs' xx

Thurmanmurman · 08/02/2020 09:05

Brownie leader here. We do Christmas related activities but that's as far as it goes, I'm not religious at all.

Teateaandmoretea · 08/02/2020 09:05

I'm against it because of their policy of rejecting girls who are gender non conforming, and allowing males to identify in as 'girls' which means sharing sleeping and toilet areas

Rainbows is for 5-7 year olds 🤷🏻‍♀️. I doubt this will be an issue for the OP or her daughter.

My dd liked rainbows but hated brownies bizarrely enough. I can't believe the waits - brownies round here seems unfashionable and usually has an excess of places, despite some packs closing.

LBOCS2 · 08/02/2020 09:07

I think I'm the lone dissenting voice - DD1 went to Rainbows and found it very boring. I suspect it was the group rather than the concept (I went to brownies and really enjoyed it) - we gave it a rest for a year and she joined Beavers instead, which she's really enjoying. And again - I've just had to put 3yo DD2's name down as she wouldn't have a place when she turns 6 otherwise!

Catting · 08/02/2020 09:22

Teatea, the whole guiding club allows it. She is a rainbow now, but after rainbows does she then quit a club she has become attached to because of this policy?
Better to start off in Scouts where this hasn't reached.....yet.

EstebanTheMagnificent · 08/02/2020 09:23

I'm against it because of their policy of rejecting girls who are gender non conforming, and allowing males to identify in as 'girls' which means sharing sleeping and toilet areas.

Yes, I’m aware of this and mindful of it but I’m not going to allow my child to miss out on important experiences by boycotting an organisation which does a lot of good for girls and young women.

Urkiddingright · 08/02/2020 09:32

My DD goes to Beavers and DS to cubs. It’s not very religious anymore at all, they were given the option of having a humanist swearing in ceremony which they both wanted.

Some of the activities they’re asked to do are weird. My DS was collecting frozen peas off the floor in the dark last week then had to count how many peas he had picked up Confused but he enjoys it so...

Streamside · 08/02/2020 10:18

I'd imagine there may not be as lengthy a waiting list if more parents volunteered so I'm particularly impressed with their process of speeding the process up if you volunteer. I don't mean to be rude but get the impression that you wouldn't have questioned the religious aspect, quality of the experience etc if it had been easier to get her in or if you hadn't needed to volunteer.

Emmelina · 08/02/2020 10:33

Youngest in Rainbows, eldest started in Rainbows but is now a girl guide. They have the best time every week. There used to be a lot more religion when I was a brownie in the eighties but that’s been reigned back a lot. Eldest has a couple of Muslim girls in her group with hijabs and they’re treated just as equally as everyone else (as of course they should be!).

DobbyLovesSocks · 08/02/2020 10:41

Ex-brownie leader here. I still think it's a shame that Scouts allow both boys and girls. Children need their own space, especially as they mature at different ages. Scouts only allowed girls in (I believe) as they were on the brink of collapse. I think it is very good that guiding has remained a girl only space.
I agree that beavers/cubs/scouts can be a bit more exciting but that's mainly down to the leaders. A group is only as good as the leaders running it and the effort the members make.