Junior Duke Awards

[Ceesta]

My daughter is in reception and we’ve had an email tonight about Junior Duke awards. I’ll admit my high school never did Duke of Edinburgh so I’m not even fully aware of what the full fledged awards encompass but clearly this is a version for younger children.

When I’ve googled it I can see the overall theme seems to relate to independence and confidence building etc all of which is great obviously. I don’t get the impression anyone at school has spoken to the children about it, so whether or not my daughter signs up is pretty much going to be down to me. I’m not even clear if any of this takes place in school or if there is a linked after school club, or if it’s all on me 🤷🏼‍♀️.

So my question is, can anybody whose kids do or have done Junior Duke give me a bit more insight. Is it worth doing? Or am I just going to regret having signed up to something that becomes a bit of a pain?

Any advice greatfully received!

My kids did it in primary school, they're at Uni now.
Just lots of little challenges to do at home suitable for their age - wash the car was one when they were a bit older, make your own bed, plan a day out. A bit like badges in Brownies. No pressure and the kids enjoyed it. If they didn't want to do it that was fine. It did need a bit of parental supervision.
They got local famous people to come and present the Junior Duke awards, writers and sports people.
Generally just a nice thing and confidence boosting for kids.

DS signed up for it and gave up quickly!

I think it’s awful that a private individual is getting away with using a name that many people will assume has something to do with the Duke of Edinburgh’s award scheme - it doesn’t. So on the grounds alone- avoid!

Ceesta It has no affiliation with D of E, or anything to do with D of E. It's just some entrepreneur using with the word 'Duke', with a private enterprise.
I suspect that it's something you can organise yourself. Maybe some schools actively support it, but to be honest I imagine most schools simply don't have the time, energy or inclination to do anymore than give you the info.
Guides and scouts both offer similar 'challenges' for badges. My dd loved Raindows and earning badges, her sash was covered in them! She's now in Rangers (still guides) and took all her badges (rainbows, brownies, guides) off her sashes / hoody and re sewn them on her rangers blanket....kept her busy over the summer holidays!
Similarly DS was in beavers then cubs and now scouts, he's doing D of E bronze with scouts this year.

I’ve googled and it’s basically a woman selling booklets to fill in and badges. It’s a good idea but a shame it hasn’t been set up as a not-for-profit organisation and a shame she’s chosen to make it seem as though it’s connected to d of e.

My childs class (year 3) is currently doing it. I didnt realise anyone thought it really had anything to do with DOE. It’s just a bit of fun and learning life skills really. It’s not cost us anything. We had an assembly with the kids where they handed out booklets that have 9 challenges in them to complete over the course of the year. The challenges are things like swimming where you have to swim a length on your front, a length on your back and learn to float. A cooking one where they have to independently research a recipe and cook a hot meal with supervision but no assistance. Learn to read an electric metre. Walk to the shop to buy something like milk, again with supervision but no assistance if possible, they have to remember the route and cross the road safely. And other things like that. You take pics of them doing the challenges and put them in the book where they write about the challenge. We can also upload the pics to the class app and they get shown in the class meetings and assemblies. My sons really enjoying them and feels a massive sense of accomplishment when he does one