Why do you send your daughters to Brownies?

[AlbusPercival]

I was hoping to understand.

TO be very upfront I am a brown owl. I am planning this terms activities, and while I am bearing in mind all of the guiding principles I have to, what the girls find fun, I wondered why parents send their daughters and what they expect them to learn?

I was reading an old thread about a brownie unit having a Diva Night. The OP was upset at choice of songs for karaoke (understandably in my opinion) but other posters were questioning Diva Night at all. For me if the girls requested it, as one night out of the 40 I have them in a year, I would find a way to make it happen. Some times children like to dress up, and sing and dance, just as they also like to abseil, cook etc.

So what do you expect your daughters to get from Brownies?

And conversely, if you wouldn't send them, why not?

[WiryElevator]

I send/sent my DDs because they see their friends there. The fun is simple and wholesome and actually all they really want is to eat something sweet, hop around a toadstool and maybe do a craft. We live in a fast, go-go sort of area and there is something lovely and old fashioned about brownies. It makes everyone remember that they are just kids, everything for them is new

Summed up brilliantly

[PerspicaciaTick]

My DS's Beavers has been a lot less structured and activity led than my DD's Brownie pack. Far fewer badges, less craft activity etc. But then again, they are younger than Brownies and seem to spend a lot of time letting off steam and playing team games. I'll be interested to see if Cubs is different when he moves up next year.

However, both Scouts and Guides have excellent indoor and outdoor facilities in our area, so maybe that makes things simpler.

[Lurkedforever1]

Partly because I think it's something most kids enjoy. It's not dependent on a shared interest like her other activities, and because she basically enjoys anything sociable. In my mind it's something that different kids get different things from. Badge wise dd loved doing ones of her own bat that related to her interests, and also loved doing the pack ones where she learnt new things. I liked the community aspect too, such as bag packing and carol singing for charity. My dds easy going so tbh I'm not really too bothered that they do certain things, whatever is possible for the leaders or any reasonable request from parents was fine by us. Whatever they did dd is adamant she's going back as a leader to her old pack when she's old enough!

[AlbusPercival]

So if you could design the ideal brownie unit for your daughter, would it:

• meet in a church or a guide hut
  
• have a tight structure or lots of running around
  
• have craft or cooking or outdoor stuff or team games or singing
  
• be strict about uniform or more relaxed

[AlbusPercival]

And how much would you be prepared to spend on a weekend camp around £50 for craft weekend in local hut, or £120 for an all action weekend at an activity centre?

(I will not take brownies actual camping in tents!)

[PerspicaciaTick]

Um - a bit of everything that you've listed for my ideal unit, being reasonably strict with uniform. I think it is nice when the pace varies from week to week. I don't mind where the unit might meet - so long as collection is very easy (i.e. very local or good parking).

I'd prefer to spend £50 on a craft weekend, but only because DD isn't that keen on activity centres (although they did do a couple of day trips to one which were fine).

[PerspicaciaTick]

Basically I'm grateful for whatever you are able to organise. Thank you.

[BertrandRussell]

I'm a bit disappointed that some people seem to be saying it's just an opportunity to hang around with friends. Surely Guiding/Scouting should be more than that? As our Scout Leader says "If you want a Youth Club there's one down the road"

[merrymouse]

To make friends outside school and to try new things. I like the ethos of supporting each other and giving things a go just for fun.

I think there should be a mix of outdoors and crafty stuff, although presumably the activities are to an extent dependent on the skills and talents of the volunteers.

[AlbusPercival]

Merry - you are right they are, but I do try to compensate for that by buying in people when I need to/ can afford to. Such as going kayaking in a local lake with instructors from sailing club, and inviting in a circus performer to do the circus skills badge.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

DD goes because I did and I enjoyed it. I think the badges give them some to achieve and they get to make new friends.

[diplodocus]

I would prefer it to not meet on church premises, but it wouldn't be a deal breaker
I think a structure for the overall evening is good but with some opportunity to muck about a bit (they have been in school all day)
I think a mixture if activities is good, but I would particularly like outdoor stuff / team games i.e. things I can't easily do with them myself and aren't too school-like. They like a bit of craft though as well. I also like them to do a limited amount of charity work (i.e. a coffee evening / make stuff to sell) as think it gives them a stronger sense of community.
I think the uniform is quite prohibitively expensive, so would like to think no-one was excluded who couldn't afford it - happy for it to be relaxed.
I would happy for an all singing all dancing weekend once a year and / or a cheaper option more often - my DDs don't have an opportunity to go and stay with relatives so I would really like them to go on camps to develop independence.

[redskybynight]

I am a Brownie leader, but also a mum-of-a-Brownie.

So what I want for my daughter is kind of the sort of meeting I run:

• fairly relaxed (obviously we can't have total chaos but they have enough rules at school)
  
• very varied so they are literally doing something different every week including plenty of out door activities
  
• the chance to try things they wouldn't otherwise be able to do
  
• relaxed on uniform (see comment about rules!)
  

I will only run the more traditional type of weekend away - normally £40-50, I think children these days all get the chance to do the PGL type weekends through school and the having to look after themselves and "make their own" fun type of holiday is more of a novelty!

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Just seen your last question. We are lucky that we have a lovely guide hall but when I was a child ours was in the local church hall. I don't think it makes much of a difference.

I know dd enjoys learning new things so I'd say not too much running around and uniform is tricky. Unless you sell secondhand uniform it can become a bit of a middle class pack.

[SexNamesRFab]

Good value & down the road
Teaches independence, value friendships, even feminism
Variety of activities - dd especially enjoys craft, games cooking, fundraising, visits to shows & environmental centres
Because I was a brownie and loved it
Most of all because DD loves it

[chickensaresafehere]

My 8 year old daughter goes to Brownies,because I want her to mix with other children,she has SN.
Brown Owl has been wonderfully inclusive,as far as she can be,but I often well up a bit when I'm leaving & all the girls are running round(she can walk but not run),chatting together(she cannot speak) & she is stood,watching.I must add she loves going!
And I only fear this will get worse as she gets older,so I don't hold out much hope for Guides

[skyeskyeskye]

I think that uniform should be worn, you know that before you sign them up and you can always get it second hand from somewhere.. DD's group get points if they remember to wear their promise badge every week.

A lot of the girls round here belonged to Beavers as well as Rainbows/Brownies and enjoyed both.

I couldn't afford to spend more than £50 for a weekend and that would be pushing it. We paid £6 for one night's camping outdoors due to having a coffee morning to raise money recently.

If you price the events too high then you will be stopping some Brownies from going . It would be devastating for my DD to have to miss out because I couldn't afford £120.

i think that trips for groups like Brownies need to be kept realistic and affordable for everyone.

[fastdaytears]

chicken I don't know what your daughter's SN are but I'm a brownie and guide leader and we achieve lots of integration and have very happy girls with SN and mums. Hang in there! Do you have regular chats with Brown Owl about how things are going?
The ends of meetings might actually be the hardest as it's unstructured and your DD might be more involved during the activities?

[WiryElevator]

BertrandRussell Mon 07-Sep-15 17:09:44
I'm a bit disappointed that some people seem to be saying it's just an opportunity to hang around with friends. Surely Guiding/Scouting should be more than that? As our Scout Leader says "If you want a Youth Club there's one down the road"

That's exactly what makes Brownies so appealing. It's not competitive or achievement focused like everything else. I'm not aware of a youth club like that for 8,9 year old girls . There's learning to be done, but in a much more relaxed way. It's not school, after all.

[NotSoDesperateHousewife]

My DD (nearly 2) is on the list for rainbows for several reasons, firstly all her brothers are/will be scouting. Secondly, I went to rainbows, brownies and guides and it gave me such wondeful lifelong memories that I want her to have the same.

Along with that I think they learn really valuable skills at scouts/guides. They learn team work, make friendships outside of school, outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, outdoor cooking etc, all of which I hate. I also hides really feel the Christian aspect is important to us as a family.

[fastdaytears]

Also, it's friendship but in a slightly more engineered way if that makes sense! We don't generally leave the older girls to chat and exclude others in a way that might (or might not) happen at a youth club. It's a lot of small group work with mixed age groups, changing groups etc plus some stuff about what makes good friends and what qualities the girls value in each other. Not that the girls should know that's what's going on!

[chickensaresafehere]

She has a rare chromosome mutation,which is similar to CP,so gross & fine motor skill difficulties,learning disability & cannot speak.
She started out in Rainbows & is now 1 year into Brownies.
It's when I first drop her off that she seems distanced from the others,but I think the main issue is her not being able to speak(girls like to chat).
I often wonder if she would be better in Cubs

[fastdaytears]

NotSo Christianity (and all religion) is dealt with slightly differently at Scouts and Guides. You're probably up to speed but if not, your daughter will be encouraged in her beliefs but will be in a group with girls being encouraged in different beliefs- some religious some not. It's all about being true to yourself. Your daughter's Christian beliefs should be celebrated by the leaders but it's not a Christian organisation so she won't be promising to love God as she would have a few years ago. I hope that doesn't put you off.

[fastdaytears]

chicken yes girls definitely like to chat! But that shouldn't mean there aren't ways to include your DD and the fact she's enjoying it is a good start. Does she communicate in any other ways (sorry if ignorant question). Are there any signs the other girls could learn? Mine are desperate to learn sign language but I need to find someone to teach them..,

[Indantherene]

I was a Brownie and loved it, as was DD1, so DD2 went to Rainbows then on to Brownies.

There are 2 packs local to us. One takes girls from DD's school and they seem to do a lot of craft and sitting quietly. The other takes girls from the other 2 local schools and they do a whirlwind of activities, including lots of running about. I do worry that DD perhaps doesn't fit in 100% because the others know each other from school but the quiet pack wouldn't suit her at all.

They do a lot of badge work and they've been on loads of trips - to local supermarkets, local parks etc so no cost - and Brown Owl is really enthusiastic. They've been on 2 overnight camps. DD loves it, and like others I am so grateful to the leaders for volunteering their time.