DD wants to do different interest badges at Brownies, but can’t AIBU?

[TheLoveOfBrownies]

DD is 7, started Brownies in September and recently done her promise.

She did Rainbows for a year before that.

The interest badges that are done at home, DD wants to do different ones to the ones offered but Brown Owl keeps saying she can’t, she can only do 1 interest badge per term and she must do the badge suggested by Brown Owl, Rainbows was the same, she was not awarded any interest badge she did that was not the one suggested. So for example she wanted to Animal Lover, Drawing, Fruit and Veg, Nature, Recycling and Book Lover at Rainbows and they made her do Construction, Agility and Family Tree.

It feels really restrictive and not in the spirit of Guiding, especially as I as her mum am giving up time for her to do the badges outside of the meetings.

I’ve offered to pay for the badges and was told they can’t stop me but they won’t be verified or given out in her meetings, I offered to help with the meetings, and was told yes but they have a programme they follow so can’t change the badges they offer, I even offered to have a small group of the girls and do an interest badge with all of them but was told no, it has to be the badge for that term only.

DD loves Brownies so I won’t take her out but it does feel unfair that the interest badges are supposed to be pick and choose and we don’t get that option.

I’ve heard the other Rainbows and Brownies Groups locally are the same and don’t let you choose your interest badge. So changing groups won’t help.

It just feels a bit restrictive, surely she should be able to do 2 badges per term (1 each half term) at least? Especially as we've been told that there will no sleepovers or camps until at least October 2022 so she won't get those badges towards her theme awards either.

AIBU? And are all Guiding groups the same now?

Another leader saying take this further.

The whole point of interest badges in the current version of the programme is to give the girls a space for individual choice: they choose whether or not to do them, and they choose which ones to do.

It will be the point if Brown owl quits and the unit closes

@user1487194234

It will be the point if Brown owl quits and the unit closes

HQ shouldn't be "living in fear" of quitting leaders... The leaders aren't following the programme.

Would it be ok if they just stopped allowing badges full stop, or refused to let little Flossie have her gold award because they couldn't be bothered to award the badge? Etc

Aeons ago a friend’s dd came back from Brownies saying, ‘Brown Owl says you’ve got to teach me to knit.’

Friend’s reply - she had 3 dcs and was permanently harassed, wasn’t quite, ‘You can tell Brown Owl to fuck right off,’ but it wasn’t far off!

The dd left Brownies not long afterwards, disgusted with the fact that she was supposed to knit, while the local Cubs went sausage sizzling on the beach.

Even longer ago I left Brownies because of the dreaded compulsory knitting - hated it and could never get to grips with it.
Funny how I really like it now. 🙂

Switch her to Beavers.

My son has a sleep over planned for next month as the Scout association authorised resumption of nights away either last month or late September.

They will probably allow her to do the badges she wants too.

@00100001 I quite agree. Leaders are volunteers, but nobody forces them to volunteer. If they don’t want to abide by the programme, they can run a youth club. Unfortunately if we let this slide, then whose to say that something critical like safeguarding isn’t next. (And this is why I had to leave!!)

Am not say it's right

@user1487194234

Am not say it's right

So what are you saying?

@RedToothBrush

Switch her to Beavers.

My son has a sleep over planned for next month as the Scout association authorised resumption of nights away either last month or late September.

They will probably allow her to do the badges she wants too.

It's nothing to do with girl guiding, it's the leaders not following the programme...

GG is supposed to be girl led following a national programme...not whatever the leaders decide it is

Switch to Cubs. My kids are encouraged to do loads of badges in the Scouts.

@MajorCarolDanvers

Switch to Cubs. My kids are encouraged to do loads of badges in the Scouts.

... again the lack of badge choice is fuck all to do with how Guiding should be run....

@00100001 again the lack of badge choice is fuck all to do with how Guiding should be run....

Indeed and it sounds like Scouts is the 'fuck' better run in this example.

Sounds batshit not to encourage them. I'm a beaver leader and we actively try and get them to do badges at home that we can't do at meetings - like animal care and photographer and Gardner and such like.

And it takes no time at all to tick it off - kid comes in with the evidence and one of us takes a look and asks a few questions and job done!

And yes I agree the activities should be youth led. Not sure what else you can do other than maybe look for another group?

[quote MajorCarolDanvers]**@00100001* again the lack of badge choice is fuck all to do with how Guiding should be run....*

Indeed and it sounds like Scouts is the 'fuck' better run in this example. [/quote]
But Scouts isn't inherently better organised. It's a different but similar organisation.

People who are saying"get them to beavers/cubs/scouts" are implying that organisation is better because kids can do whatever badges they want....bit that's how GGing is too!

They're ignoring the fact these leaders aren't following the organisational guidelines.

@00100001 absolutely with you on this. Brownies can do any of the interest badges they want to - no restrictions. It’s just that the OP’s child’s unit is doing things incorrectly and the unit leader and obviously from what’s been further written, the District Commissioner, need taking to task. But people are ignoring that!!

I have won!

DD has been awarded an interest badge tonight that wasn't the prescribed one. We have to stick to the theme for the term though and they have said no more than 2 interest badges per term, but we've got somewhere with it and going forward they'll say any girl can do any interest badge within the theme for the term (which was always a compromise I was happy with anyway).

I had to involve the county commissioner which felt a bit like telling tales but she agreed that the way our district was run wasn't in the spirit of GGing.

Brilliant ! Very pleased fir your daughter .

Well done you :D

Well done! That’s great news!

@TheLoveOfBrownies hi! As a leader in training, I just wanted to jump on to give some guidance.

Yes they do have a programme that they follow and there is a minimum number of interest badges that they need to do for each section that brown owl may decide upon to ensure everyone completes what they need to. However NEVER have I heard from any unit or leader, that they can't do more interest badges! Just a few weeks ago, we had 1 brownie have 8 interest badges signed off and awarded at 1 meeting! I'd seriously consider getting in touch with someone higher up and consider moving her to a different unit if that's possible. If you wish to PM me, please feel free! I'd be more than happy to make a report about it if you wished to tell me the unit name, as I absolutely love guiding and hate it when a select few ruin the joy and fun for our girls.