Rainbows/Brownies

[Beento]

I want my daughter to attend Rainbows/Brownies, is it just simply going to the nearest one? Or would different centres have different offerings and I should visit before enrolling? Thanks.

Ask around if you can, units will probably differ a bit in what they do depending on the abilities/interests/parental help available. You don't have to go to the nearest one. We don't for Cubs.

Rainbows is 5-7 and Brownies 7+

You may need to put her name down on a waiting list,and they can be long,so be aware!

Probably more a case of which one has shortest waiting list! Near me packs are bursting at the seams.

If she's Rainbow age you may find she doesn't come near the top of the waiting list before she's a Brownie. You would round here.

Thanks all. My local one's got spaces, they don't have a waiting list.

I spoke with a local mom about it and she implied it's not a good one and suggested I put her on a waiting list at another one that's 20 minute walk away. She doesn't have a child in Rainbows etc so not sure how she knows that.

From what I can gather what they do in both is Art, Crafts, Games, Cooking and they have the police etc come talk to them sometimes about safety etc. Both 1 hour a week and about £20 a term.

Feels like I should be grateful for 1 hour's free "childcare" though I'd my dd had a "quality experience" iyswim no matter how cheap.

I liked the sound of the lady at the local one and her enthusiasm, but now silly me is wondering why they don't have a waiting list.

Try it out! :)

DD loves it (and did have to go on a very long waiting list to get a place but I wanted the most local one). They seem to play games, do some kind of craft activity and eat biscuits from what I can gather.

DD1 was a rainbow and is now a brownie at the pack which meets opposite a very good pub....

Don't worry about the waiting list. My Rainbow unit doesn't have a waiting list for girls of 'Rainbow age', just for girls who are 3/4 and want to ensure a space when they are 5. It has been years since we have had a waiting list as we are lucky enough to have several leaders and hence can take more girls that other units with just 2 leaders (though the regs on this have changed a little now). Our district opened a new Rainbow unit when we got oversubscribed. Also my girls are often evenly spaced in age girls go up to Brownies each term, leaving space for new Rainbows. So there are many reasons why there may not be a witing list. Unfortunately if there is a mum going around telling people to put their child in a different unit this will also have affect the waiting list as people will listen to her and do accordingly- whether it is true or not.

Why not try your daughter at the unit, if she doesn't get on with it move to the other unit. Most units offer at least one free trial session, I offer a free 1/2 term as I want girls and parents to feel they are comfortable with us without feeling they must attend because they have paid for it.

Thanks everyone. We'll go to the local one first and see how it goes.