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Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

Original poster

rainbows/brownies - what's it all about?

30 replies

jeangenie · 12/06/2008 21:50

my DD can join rainbows if she wants...but I didn't grow up here and so have no idea what happens or what it's all about - is it religious for example? (we are not)

if anyone could bear to give me short precis I would be eternally grateful

she is not really a joiner inner so if she is enthusiastic I am keen to let her go, but not before I know a bt more...the woman who runs it is a vicar's wife and was talking about "promises" which tbh worried me a bit, but I am not really sure why

thanks

OP posts:
KatyMac · 12/06/2008 21:53

"I Promise that I will do my best to love my God and to be kind and helpful"

Craft & cooking & being nice to each other & group games

DD loved it then did Brownies & is now a guide

Religion is very vague at her pack

misdee · 12/06/2008 21:54

dd2 is a rainbow. its just craft activities and workign for badges. they made petal promises a little while ago, and dd2 one was helping with the animals at home.

dd1 does brownies and isnt really as into it as dd2, but likes going for the social side of it.

Tiggerish · 12/06/2008 21:59

when can they join Rainbows?

is there an equivalent for boys? Is cubs the same sort of age?

Original poster
jeangenie · 12/06/2008 21:59

oh gosh - so they have to make that promise do they? I thought it might be something personal for each child...hmm, can't see DH letting her go if he hears that...he is very anti-religion...I'm a bit more laissez-faire but we do teach the kids to question the idea of One God and to be open minded about other religions so maybe it's not for us...the other bits do sound fun though

hmm....

OP posts:
KatyMac · 12/06/2008 22:00

5(ish) I think

Yes Cubs

But there other groups out there - I just can't think of any (& I like guiding)

Orinoco · 12/06/2008 22:01

Message withdrawn

Original poster
jeangenie · 12/06/2008 22:01

i dunno - DD1 is just about to turn 6 and someone at school suggested it to me

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Yurtgirl · 12/06/2008 22:02

beavers is roughly equivalent to rainbows

cubs to brownies and scouts roughly the same age group to guides but I think for some reason the age groups are slightly different for girls and boys. I dont know why!

Also girls can join cubs and scouts if they are not wishing to be girly girls.

LaylaandSethsmum · 12/06/2008 22:03

Rainbows is fun though! How much would a muttered promise really mean to your 5 yr old? My DD loves rainbows, they do lots of craft stuff go for walks play on the park, it gives her the chance to meet kids she wouldn't otherwise meet.

Orinoco · 12/06/2008 22:03

Message withdrawn

KatyMac · 12/06/2008 22:03

I think 'love my god' is quite inclusive tbh - if you don't have one it isn't going to hurt her to promise that - just explain it for people who do

Original poster
jeangenie · 12/06/2008 22:04

is it VERY girly? she is not and plays mostly with boys but while I feel no urge to turn her too girly I don't think 'twould do her any harm to play with girls...those boys can be very rough at times...although they are also very kind of course...

OP posts:
misdee · 12/06/2008 22:06

yes it states NT god, not just God.

dd's sessions are held at the local church and they are encourgaed to go to special services there as well. we arent religious at all, but its something dd's enjoy and thyey are showing an interest in lots of different religions.

Original poster
jeangenie · 12/06/2008 22:07

yes, it does sound inclusive in a way - it's not JUST a christian organisation is it? I don't think it would mean a jot to DD1 to say those words but her father would find it very troublesome...I think it is also the fact that the group is run or led or whatever you might call it by the vicar's wife...so we'd be a bit nervous she'd be "spreading the word" so to speak. (No offence to any "believers" here at all btw)

OP posts:
Orinoco · 12/06/2008 22:08

Message withdrawn

Original poster
jeangenie · 12/06/2008 22:10

oooh - you see she'd love both of those - she loves a bit of rough and tumble AND is very arty too!

OP posts:
MrsWeasley · 12/06/2008 22:18

I help at Rainbows and it is all about having a bit of fun they do say the promise but we have girls who beleive in different things. We do not make the girls do anything they dont want to do and "love my god" can mean lots of different things to different people ie being helpful, looking after the planet, etc. It is worded as love MY god to enable it to mean differnt things to different people.

They go from 5-7 years then if spaces available they go to Brownies.

Speak to the leader and ask if your DD can give it a try. Talk to her about the aspect of the promise that makes you uncomfortable but give her time to research and respond.

The important thing is that your DD wants to go IMO.

MadBadandDangeroustoKnow · 12/06/2008 22:23

OK. Will nail my colours to the mast as a Brownie leader.

The Brownie Promise says

I promise that I will do my best, to love my God, to serve the Queen and my country, to help other people and to keep the Brownie Guide law.

There is much more information on www.girlguiding.org.uk. Guiding is not a Christian organisation - we promise to love our god, whoever that might be - but it has a spiritual dimension. We encourage the girls to think about their place in the world, the values by which they live and so on. Recently, our pack has been using the resource pack on children's rights, produced by girlguiding uk.

As Orinoco says, packs do vary in character. It depends on the experiences and interests of the leaders and what facilities or resources are nearby.

The Woodcraft Folk offers broadly similar activities in a secular environment.

cat64 · 12/06/2008 22:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

MadBadandDangeroustoKnow · 12/06/2008 22:26

Good for you, Mrs Weasley.

We need more volunteers - there are 50,000 girls around the country waiting to join Rainbows, Brownies and Guides because we're short of volunteers and can't expand.

MrsWeasley · 12/06/2008 22:31

Right back at you MadBadandDangeroustoKnow

I am a Brownie leader too but help at Rainbows it the leaders are stuck!

Original poster
jeangenie · 12/06/2008 22:33

thanks you guys - am much better informed now - will talk to leader as tactfully as I can and see how we go from there

I would like DD to get involved in something and if this is that thing well that's great

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MadBadandDangeroustoKnow · 12/06/2008 23:16

Mrs Weasley - respect!

SlartyBartFast · 12/06/2008 23:32

don't forget
To Serve My queen and country

rainbows is good as is brownies. they can join beavers cubs if they wanted, but the boys cannot join rainbows

MaureenMLove · 12/06/2008 23:53

I asked my District Commissioner about the Love my God bit in the promise, after someone on here was really against her dd saying it. She said that if the parents really didn't want them to say it, it could be left out. Can't understand why anyone who was dead against it, would worry about it though. Clearly, if they don't believe, they wouldn't worry about getting struck by lightening!

Can i just say though, and I don't know if this is true for other units, but we get very reduced rates on the use of the church hall and therefore, I do expect my Rainbows to attend at least 3 churchh parades a year, if only to show our appreciation to the vicar for giving us 'mates rates!' I therefore think that it is nice if the girls make their full promise, including Love my God.

Guiding is a fabulous organisation and it opens a lot of doors for any girl that gets involved and says involved and as clubs go, very cheap too!

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