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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think my DD should have more Brownies badges by now?

129 replies

UndertheCedartree · 30/10/2021 12:19

My DD joined Brownies when she was 7 and a half. She was there 6 months before Lockdown. Brownies continued online on Zoom but she didn't get on with that. So she only started back in September when they started meetings again. She is 9 and a half now. So to be fair she's not been there that much over the 2 years.

I'm not sure exactly when she would leave Brownies but I think at 10 or 10 and a half. She is therefore keen to get her Gold Award which is the top badge a Brownie can get. We went through all the badges she has and she only had Communication as the only badge that counts towards the Gold Award. I thought she should have more by now?

Just to be clear this is not a dig in any way at the fantastic leaders that run Brownies. I am eternally grateful for these volunteers giving up their own time to run an amazing group and making it really affordable for me. My DD has just come back from Pack holiday (where she got the Communication badge) and she loved it so much. It was a lovely experience for her with clearly so much work having gone in to running it.

Do you think it possible she has just missed being given the badges? Any advice from Guiding insiders would be welcome!

OP posts:
TreeLawney · 30/10/2021 12:25

It doesn’t sound like she’s been there long enough to get many - dd generally gets a main badge a term and then does a couple of interest badges at home under her own steam. She also got lots over lockdown by joining in with the zoom sessions & doing extra bits in her own time.

So maybe your dd could have expected to get 1 or 2 for the first 6 months she went, and then she’s got 1 this term now she’s back - it doesn’t sounds wildly off.

catsandhens · 30/10/2021 12:26

she doesn't have to do the badges during brownie time, most of the badges can be done in her own time and then you can speak to brown owl about arranging a tester

some packs are more focused on doing badge work in brownie time, others aren't, there are no guarantee of badges just by attending, you can mention to brown owl that she is enthusiastic about getting more badges as the meetings will be geared towards what the girls want and if there are a few vocal ones who are less interested in badge work and more in general learning and play, your daughters interests may be passing under the radar

PinkForgetMeNot · 30/10/2021 12:26

It used to be that you looked through the badge book and arranged to do badges yourself. You booked to meet with the tester in their home. I remember going to an Art badge tester home and house orderly. Are there any you could arrange yourself?

PaddingtonStareBare · 30/10/2021 12:26

Ex Brownie Leader here, she can also do a lot of badges herself at home :)

Terminallysleepdeprived · 30/10/2021 12:27

The way the new programme works leaders are no longer allowed to do badges in unit time, they have to be done at home.

Some units find ways to manipulate it but others find fitting in the requirements for the new programme hard enough.

TeenMinusTests · 30/10/2021 12:29

She did 6 months before lockdown, and then only 6-8 weeks since September? Or do you mean last September?

Orangedaisy · 30/10/2021 12:29

Yes, you’re supposed to do the badges at home in your own time.

Whinge · 30/10/2021 12:31

@Terminallysleepdeprived

The way the new programme works leaders are no longer allowed to do badges in unit time, they have to be done at home.

Some units find ways to manipulate it but others find fitting in the requirements for the new programme hard enough.

I came on to say this. Interest badges are done outside of unit time. It's just one of the things a lot of leaders dislike about the new programme.
PaddingtonStareBare · 30/10/2021 12:34

But some of us loved!

Original poster
UndertheCedartree · 30/10/2021 12:38

Thanks for all the comments. From reading the badge book there are interest badges she can work on at home and skills builders that they have to do at Brownies. Is that not right?

To be honest I have been very ill so not been able to help her with badges. I didn't realise until the other day reading the badge book that some had to be done at home as my DS got his Beavers and Cubs badges from meetings mainly or they would send something home to do.

I will now help her to complete the interest badges but the skills builders need to be done at Brownies and the theme awards as far as I can tell.

OP posts:
Original poster
UndertheCedartree · 30/10/2021 12:40

I'm wondering if she missed being given a badge during the initial 6 months she was attending.

OP posts:
Orangedaisy · 30/10/2021 12:44

Yes skills builders and umas are done at brownies, badges at home. Why don’t you just ask the leaders? We had a mum come in recently and ran through her daughter’s record with us, no problem at all.

Original poster
UndertheCedartree · 30/10/2021 12:49

@Orangedaisy - I have anxiety and ASD so I just wanted to get some information so I feel more comfortable speaking to them! Everyone has been very helpful, thank you.

OP posts:
junglejane66 · 30/10/2021 12:51

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Morgantowers · 30/10/2021 12:53

The kids with loads of badges will doing the badges at home and with family. Look up the list on their website and start doing. Take pictures for evidence and if it’s a gym class get the coach to write a back up letter.

ftw163532 · 30/10/2021 13:00

So she's only actually been a Brownie for 7 months? Has she earned her Bronze award yet? Or Silver?

The Gold award is intended to be an achievement worked towards over 3 years. It won't mean anything (for her or other girls) if she's just given it.

It's unfortunate that the pandemic interrupted her Brownie experience, but as with anything in life if she hasn't put the work in she can't have the reward. I think you just need to be clear and honest with her about the reality and how it works then focus on setting her goals to a realistic target like her Bronze and then pursuing awards as a Guide.

She will be able to work towards the equivalent when she's a Guide, and more.

Longdistance · 30/10/2021 13:02

My dds have both gone through Rainbows, Brownies and see now both GG. The programme of getting the badges is difficult enough as homework takes over their lives in Senior school. My dds are finding it difficult and I don’t think they’ll go back after Christmas. My dd2 did some stuff the other day and I was sent an email that she won’t be getting the badge as she hasn’t understood what’s needed of her. Really? Maybe explain it to her then… The GG troupe always lose the girls, for some reason, I wonder why Hmm

Terminallysleepdeprived · 30/10/2021 13:17

@Longdistance

My dds have both gone through Rainbows, Brownies and see now both GG. The programme of getting the badges is difficult enough as homework takes over their lives in Senior school. My dds are finding it difficult and I don’t think they’ll go back after Christmas. My dd2 did some stuff the other day and I was sent an email that she won’t be getting the badge as she hasn’t understood what’s needed of her. Really? Maybe explain it to her then… The GG troupe always lose the girls, for some reason, I wonder why Hmm
The new programme makes no allownances for this. I like some of the ideas but overall I feel it is causing the movement to lose girls and leaders.
ColinTheKoala · 30/10/2021 13:25

Not allowing badgework in sessions also seems to discriminate against the kids who don't have engaged parents to help at home. 8-10 year olds aren't very old and most will need at least some guidance or help from adults. I remember working through badges myself but still needed help from adults to arrange testing. What is the reason for this policy?

MadeOfStarStuff · 30/10/2021 13:52

Skills builders were difficult to do during lockdown because they need small group work. They originally needed to do 5 out of 5 activities so if they missed a week they wouldn’t get the badge. It’s now reduced to 4 out of 5 in an attempt to make that less of a problem

Interest badges need to be done at home

GuidingSpirit · 30/10/2021 14:05

Brownie leader here 👋🏻

The brownie programme is explained in the badge book. To get the programme awards, your DD needs to:

  • complete a skills builder in each of the six themes (these are mostly group activities done in unit time. Need to complete 4 out 5 set activities)
  • complete 3 hrs of "unit meeting activities" in each colour. These are specific activities done in meeting time and are separate to the skills builders activities. Often takes several meetings to get enough time to achieve this so relies on consistent attendance.
  • complete an interest badge in each colour at home.

One skills builder + one block of 3hr unit meeting activities + one interest badge all in the same theme = one theme award

Two theme awards = bronze
Four theme awards = silver
Six theme awards + special challenge = gold.

If she didnt attend on zoom, then its highly unlikely she will have any theme awards as the unit meeting activities take a while to build up.

In my unit, we do one skills builder a term and occasionally use one session to start an interest badge, with the girls finishing at home. Occasionally we do special badges (eg. Parliament week etc). So if she was going for six months before lockdown and has just returned this sept, then i would expect her to have maybe 2 or 3 skills builders tops, plus whatever interest badges have been done at home?

You could have a chat with her leaders and see what skills builders and umas are planned for the next couple of terms, then focus your interest badge efforts on those themes. That might allow her to get the bronze award at least! We've done that for a couple of our older ones that missed out due to lockdown.

The interest badges are also designed to be done with minimal adult supervision (except maybe baking!) So worth seeing if she's able to get on with some under her own steam? Remember, she doesnt need to produce perfect work - it isnt school! As long as your DD has tried her best!

GuidingSpirit · 30/10/2021 14:08

Just make sure you tell the leaders what badges you are working on so they can arrange "testing" (basically asking the child what they did or looking at any work or photos), and so they can order the badge in. Its the worst feeling when a brownie presents all their completed badge work and i didn't know they were doing it. Usually means a weeks wait whilst i order in the badge!

Vulpius · 30/10/2021 14:12

How times have changed. When I was a Brownie a long time ago we were expected to do the badges in our own time, and without help from parents. Some of us had loads, and some of us (including me) had one or none. I wouldn't overthink it.

Whinge · 30/10/2021 14:15

@Vulpius

How times have changed. When I was a Brownie a long time ago we were expected to do the badges in our own time, and without help from parents. Some of us had loads, and some of us (including me) had one or none. I wouldn't overthink it.
But that's how it works today. Confused
TeenMinusTests · 30/10/2021 14:28

From the outside, the system these days seems (unnecessarily) complex and structured. Doesn't it suck a lot of the joy and spontaneity out of things?

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