Do you think the Scouting & Guiding movements should 'force' parental involvement?

[miljee]

We endlessly read about the incredible burgeoning popularity of Scouting and Guiding (presumably in these days of not allowing DCs out to play alone and unsupervised!) YET parental involvement is like hens teeth around here!

DS2s Beavers draw up a roster for parent help BUT only from those who have agreed to help so my actual 'turn' comes round once every half term tho' I help far more often than that; DS1s Cubs- well, I'm at risk of being put in a uniform I'm there so often! Probably 2 out of 3 meetings! Now I have to say there are several reasons I help: my DSs are not 'natural' scouting material but I really feel what scouting has to offer them is so worthwhile that I go often to 'encourage' them, AND they go 'out of village' which means there's no one from their schools there; also, I don't mind helping as I think scouting and guiding leaders deserve medals for all the time they give our DCs for free. At Beavers, by and large, you're a bit supernumerary- they don't actual NEED the help but they do need the legal minimum adult to child ratio. Cubs- well, you're in there running around, generally having a good time. Oh, and stacks of washing up at both!

MY thing is I believe that the movements should INSIST on some reciprocation in that if you want your DC to benefit from these activities, YOU, as a parent should expect to have to put something IN. God, Akela has had to insist that the parents actually enter the hall to collect their DSs so he can eyeball them and pass on important information! I can't deny also there is also the issue that I think a couple of parents might get a bit of a rude awakening if they saw how 'difficult' their DS is once they're out of supervisory eye-shot!

And OK we could argue we SO have to be involved in EVERY aspect of our DCs lives these days, which is true but I DO feel organisations run entirely by volunteers deserve the help!

You wouldn't have been expected to help every week avenanap. That's the point. I go one week, you get a break. You go another, I get a break

I wouldn't mind at all if there was a parent rota. Never has been at the dds' rainbows, brownies, guides.

They just need to ask.

There were only 8 kids, including 1 set of twins. I was a bit overwhelmed as it really was ds's first week. I was working shifts starting work at 7am so was a tad tired. I was on placement so it would have been like that for ages. I did feel bad though but I was so tired.

Yes, I'd certainly prefer NOT to have to stay most weeks- I do my best not to work with my DSs table, but, like others have said, there were times that if I didn't stay, there'd be no Beavers/Cubs that week! Must remember that excuse, tho'- "If I stay my DS won't learn independence... See you!"

I'm interested (and heartened!) by how many groups make rota'ed help a prerequisite for a DC joining. I must say I thought there's be a 'backlash' of people saying a child shouldn't be penalised because his parents can't help/won't help- if only because Scouting and Guiding RELIES on voluntary help. And if everyone who COULD help (and I'd certainly make exceptions for the parent who was running a youth club!) did, one's turn would come around no more than once every half term, wouldn't it? Also, getting parents to get involved gives the DCs different perspectives, esp if the Cubs do something 'boy-crafty' and we've managed to get a few dads involved. They all got stuck into the making of a bird box!

Finally, I smiled ruefully at the lip a leader got: Our Cubs have just started getting a bit heavier about turning up on time, which to me is one of the core things about Scouting ie respecting others, and our number 2 got some real grief from a couple of parents she politely asked to try and improve their time keeping! Perhaps it boils down to our society's all-pervading sense of entitlement? That all should come to ME and it's my RIGHT not to lift a finger in exchange- 'values' Scouting seeks to eradicate!

Ours doesn't - I think we live in a well-resourced pocket of Scouting and Guiding. We still have enough Explorers etc kicking about, luckily
We'd be OK about going on a rota, and we already support them as much as possible by helping out with annual fund-raisers etc

3 of my five are now in the scout movement.....DS2 is a beaver (and was invested this week...he is currently the smallest and youngest in the troop)
DS1 is right now still a beaver, but will be a cub in about 4wks (he turns 8 on 24th may)
DD2 is in scouts!!! (and LOVES it).

I have not got involved that much as yet.....I am heavily involved in the dance and drama school that all the kiddies also do, plus the boys also do football, so at the moment the scout leaders are aware that I am held up a little......BUT

they also raise money thro being bike race/triathalon marshals on weekends and evenings during the summer, so I am going to be helping there, so I will feel that I am 'playing my part' finally.

DH however is slowly being buttered up by skippy as he has found out that DH is very 'handy' and is a builder and rather strong......I feel DH will be roped in quite effectively soon.

I do know however that it seems to be the same parents each time that help out.....same faces, sames jobs etc. tisn't overly fair IMO, so am looking forward to mucking in......

there is a trip to 'diggerland' planned soon.....now that is something I would happily do with them!!!

Ooh, Psycho, t'won't be long before your DH finds himself in khaki! And I suspect diggerland would be a big hit!

What irritates me is at Christmas when I turn up with bottles of wine/champagne and cards for the scout leaders to say thanks for their efforts, the other parents look at me like I have 2 heads.

I do feel guilty about not doing more with scouts, but I'd have to miss once a month for Youth Club, and dh is in the Forces, so not always about on a Friday night for scouts. I will try and help more when they have a book stall etc next term though.

Ds is in Cubs, dd in rainbows. Ds has done two years in Beavers. For all of these there is a rota system. So I help out once a term on each, so twice a term in total. In addition I put my name down to sell raffle tickets at the Christmas variety performance last year.
It does not amount to much of my time. Nowhere near the amount of time the leaders put in.
I have the highest of praise for those who turn up week after week to lead beavers/cubs etc.
Dh has just been asked to become quartermaster (glorified storeman?) for our local Scouts.
And he happily helps build and attend the bonfire every year too.
And last Sunday he escorted the Beavers and Cubs on a walk in the woods to a hill to renew their vows for St George's day, and he has escorted them on various night walks too.

I think it SHOULD be a condition of joining everywhere, as without parental involvement these activities could not take place.

Hmm, I wonder why I gave Cubs and Beavers a capital letter, but not rainbows?

Rainbows, there that is better

i have found that where we live (dd is now 17 and left guides etc) it is always the same sets of parents who support/help etc. (not just guides , pta, pre-school, individiual reading and the like)

we now have an oversubsricribed rainbow section, little ones desperate to join, but, NO parent is actually willing to help.

as a group of friends , our kids are now mainly school leavers/uni students etc. the younger parents are just not interested in supporting rainbows or cubs etc.

Yes. Everything of this nature should be contingent on parental support. If you can't be arsed to put in some effort for your kids,why should someone else?

I can see why some paents can't help out. If they have other children to look after, and no one at home to hold the fort - then what can they do?

They could do simple admin. tasks-lick envelopes,print out newsletters and so on.

When ds started Beavers, dd was only 3. When it was my turn to help out she would sit at one of the tables near me, with colouring books and pens.
Now she is bigger she takes her Leapster or tries to join in
The leaders don't mind this at all. They would rather have a helper with a small child than no helper at all.

I'm a unit helper in Brownies, and we are in the really fortunate position to have 6 regular leaders for about 24 Brownies. We actually get parents asking to help, and we turn them down!

We all do it as church outreach so it doesn't feel like a burden.

I've only been doing it since last September, and I expected it to be a bit of a chore, but it's not - I really enjoy it and feel valued. I have different things to offer than the other leaders, so am doing the more nerdy badges with the girls (science investigator, computer etc.). Getting involved regularly is a lot more fun than just going along to make up numbers and provide the correct adult/child ratio.

Yes-all parents should take a turn once a term. I was a Beaver Leader because it was the only way to get my DSs in, it is very difficult to get leaders. Helping as a parent doesn't involve any preparation etc but it is another pair of hands on the evening. Dad's are especially good, as DCs have mainly female teachers etc. Guiding and Scouting is wonderful for the DC-it gives all sorts of life experience and is CHEAP. Too many parents see it as a cheap babysitting service and never help. If everyone took a turn on a rota then it would only come up once a term at most.Everyone should put something into their community and this is a good, easy way.

ScienceTeacher you are a terrible show off! 6 helpers and turning people away! Only in my Rainbow dreams! Send a couple over to GLK region will you!

GLK?

I'm trying to set up a Rainbows pack in my village but no one wants to help run it with me ....'tis all a bit disheartening really

GLK - Greater London and Kent region.

I am ok for leaders mostly, one of the benefits of living in a small university town with a very active SSAGO but I tend to ask for parental help at the start and end of term so that I can run to school terms rather than uni terms. Not had a problem so far.

I find that the lack of parental commitment comes at other times, like church parade. I'm not christian, I don't view church parade as an important part of Guiding but the churh supports the units at our hut financially and I 've explained to the parents that this is our way of showing we apprechiate that support. LAst time I had 1 Rainbow show up

I think that a lot of parents do view us as free babysitting, or think they can't as they work/have other kids. Well I'm a uni finalish and run Rainbows with ds in a sling. But the thing is a lot of parents probably don't feel very connected. In most cases they only hear from us when we want money be it subs, selling raffle tickets, money for trips etc. I think units can try harder to make sure they are involved. I try to have a termly parents' meeting where I hand out the term plan, inform them on the programme a bit and what the activities we've done have been working towards and anyone who wants to can raise issues.

Still, if amnyone wants ot be a leader, we are oversubscribed and I'm going to start September with no spaces for anyone in turning 5 for the new school year so we could do with another unit!

Tatter, can you poach someone from a neighbouring village? Or at least go and help at one there, so they can increase their numbers and then when the waiting list gets too long, start your own.

Nice tent tatter Where do you live?

Single parents at ours take their other children with them if they need to - it's never been an issue and is only once a term after all. There's also nothing to stop people swapping to a night that suits them better for childcare etc.