Anyone's DD go to Rainbow Brownies?

[AlmostMrsRobinson]

Just a couple of questions, what size uniform do I buy and where from? My daughter has just tuned 5 and is average height but I've herd that the pants are quite short and don't have an elasticated waist, so I don't know if I need small or medium.

And

Do they get badges like brownies do? Are these given by the leaders or do you have to buy them?

My DD started last week and I think she is going to carry on going so I need to get a uniform sorted soon and a bit more information in how the whole thing works.

Thanks in advance

Speak to your daughter's leader in the first instance: she'll be able to advise you of any unit-specific foibles or if anyone else has just left and may be interested in selling on uniform. Also there may be a local county shop for you to buy from rather than ordering through national guiding so that your local county gets the profit!
Generally Rainbows work for 'roundabouts' which are on a variety of topics but have the same badge: so by the time she leaves she may have several roundabout badges on her uniform, each for a different thing. Each unti runs it's finanaces differently so while in most units the cost of badges is included, if you are paying very low subs it may be that badges are purchased separately.
Sorry I can't give you definite answer.

You can buy the uniform online and to be honest you're the best judge of which size to get. It might be an idea to chat to the other mums and dads and see what they say.

The online shop is here www.girlguidingukshop.co.uk/

The badges will be given to them by their leaders and can be sewn onto the uniform.

You have a some great answers here. My dd1 joined at age 6 and is tall and not skinny. Trousers are elasticated but not adjustable. She is in a pair of small trousers and these fit perfectly now she is 6.5

Thanks for the replies, I might see where the nearest shop is so she can try things on. Thanks momb didn't know all the badges were the same, ill ask if the price is included in subs just so I know. Thanks for the link luanmahi can't believe how expensive the uniform is to be honest! Hope it's good quality!

Lots of people sell old uniforms on eBay (actually must sell DDs old uniform...)

Meant to add that john Lewis sell the uniform and I definitely advise trying it before ordering (even if you don't buy it there) as the sizing is "interesting"
Polo shirt has shrunk too so buy that on the large size :)

All this said dd1 adores Rainbows, I'm really glad we decided to send her!

School uniform shops often stock Rainbow uniform if you have one nearby.

MirandaWest what size is the uniform? If it goes on ebay let me know :) thanks ESk, I've herd that the sizing can be a bit strange so ill see if I can get to John Lewis at weekend and try some bits on, glad your DD enjoys it, mine has only been once but she's really keen and has asked everyday so far if its time to go rainbows again yet. The song that they sing at the end is very cute :)

I've got more than one pair of trousers - had to get more as DDs legs went and grew from when she started. And more than one jacket I think. Will find it and let you know when I do :)

Thanks Miranda :)

I've just put my DD on the waiting list for Rainbows. I'm so excited, she's going to love it! Can't wait to hear the cute song! Thanks for the uniform tips

I bought DD's top used from ebay, haven't bought anything else because she is tiny TBH. Needs age 3-4 trousers, and the leader is quite happy for only the uniform top to be worn.

At DD's rainbows the children can wear the polo shirt etc. or a purple tabard. We got the tabard as its easier, and cheaper!

Try and buy uniform from a local shop if you can- ask the leader for details of the nearest. It means that the profit made on it will be spent on local guiding events/activities etc... That your daughter will benefit from.

Have a look at this link-

www.girlguiding.org.uk/about_us/what_do_girls_in_guiding_do/rainbows/programme.aspx

Which will tell you all about what rainbows do

We bought Dd's uniform through the Rainbow and then Brownie leader, that way the GG's get something back and we got a small discount
Buy the T shirt big. That way it will last longer and yu don't have to take all the bastartd badges off and sew them back on again (bitter experience...).
Thank God DD now has a Brownie badge sash!

We ended up with Small trousers, Medium shirt and Medium hoody for our DD who was just 5 when she started.

Thanks for the link Felicity. There is a uniform shop pretty close by so ill give them a ring and see if they stock the uniform. Thanks for all your help and advice everyone :)

My dd1 goes to Rainbows, she was 5 when she started and tall for her age, she had xs trousers, small hoodie and medium polo shirt. She is 6 now and has just gone into the size small trousers. The sizing is ridiculous, considering they only go to Rainbows upto age 7 I would love to see who buys the size L, I could wear them!

Check with her "pack" what uniform is actually needed.

DD2's pack just wore their own trousers so I only had to buy a polo top.

I haven't asked yet but most of the girls were wearing full uniform so I don't want DD to feel left out. Ill give it a week or two more to make sure she definatley wants to stick with it then ill splash out and get her the uniform

My DD just has the t shirt and a pair of plain red leggings. The leggings aren't part of the uniform, obviously, but I hate the way the track suit bottoms look when they've started to grow (when they skim the tops of the trainers). Our Bluebell said that they only need the t shirt, the full uniform isn't compulsory.

We got the t-shirt from our local wool shop. I got age 6-7. DD1 is five but she's tall so hopefully it will last until she leaves! :o

My daughter is 5.5

She just wears a red tabard.

They don't get badges and don't seem to do an awful lot to be honest, from what she tells me.

They're in a cold church room for just over an hour and will do a craft each week, ie painting a picture or making an origami shape.
Then they'll hold hands and dance and sing, then they learn about God.
There's about 5 or 6 girls in the group.

When she's old enough I'd like to transfer her to the Scouts group for youngsters, or hope that Brownies do a lot more than Rainbows.

It may be because the group is so small, but it's the closest to us.
None of the girls live locally, their parent drives them in from other parts of the town, so although there's a few Rainbows groups near us, they must all be full. So there's no real opportunity for my daughter to make friends locally.

Still, it's something to do outside of school and she enjoys it :)

Oh rig, Bluebell is a generic leaders name?
I thought it was lovely how the leader was called Primrose and the assistant (her daughter) was called Bluebell, both named after flowers!

Rainbow leaders generally have names originally chosen by the girls - as do Brownies now although most like to stick with the traditional owl names not bitter honest

We have a Moonbeam in our area and Dandelion - who is pretty sick of being asked if the assistant is Burdock

There's lots of info online - as link above - but you really should be given a 'Starting Rainbows' leaflet as this will have info about the programme but also the leader and commissioners contact details.

I'm Poppy at Rainbows, the girls chose it (from a selection of 3 or 4 flowers I decided I could cope with being shouted at me across the school playground :o). Locally I know of an Orchid and a Primrose, then some other units who just use first names for their leaders rather than Rainbow names. My original helper was called Snowy, but that's because she's Snowy at Brownies anyway and didn't want to change her name.

The programme should be based on the different areas of Look, Learn, Laugh, Love and they should cover each area over a term or so, ie there should be some balance in what's offered.

ImpatientOne - now we have Join Us, the starting Rainbows leaflet is out of print at Trading so won't be available for much longer.