Rainbows or Squirrels, or neither?

[Luna222]

DD will be old enough to start Rainbows next year, and as I did Rainbows and Brownies as a child I was automatically going to sign her up. But I have a baby boy, and was recently reminded that girls can join the Scouts, so now I am wondering if it makes more sense for DD to join the Squirrels instead, and that way they both go down the Scouts route.

So my questions are:

• What is the difference between the two? I am wondering what makes Girl Guides relevant when girls can join the scouts.
• Would you say it makes sense for them to do the same? There is 3 years between them so it doesn't look like they'll ever be in the same group together, but maybe it makes more sense logistically (I can't actually find info on the days/times of the groups). Do boys and girls wear the same uniform?
• What do kids actually get out of these groups? To be honest when I look back at my own time in Rainbows/Brownies all I can remember doing is decorating rich tea biscuits with icing. There are lots of other activities my kids are (or will be) doing when they turn 4/5 so is it even worth adding this?

Thanks

I have just messaged the now :)

I'm a Guide leader. Both Guiding and Scouting have a similar ethos but exact program will depend on the leaders. I recommend you get your name on both waiting lists and then let DD try both and decide which she likes. There is nothing to stop her doing beavers then Cubs then switching to Guides if she wants the girl only environment or vice versa.

Thank you for so many replies, and for the alternative suggestions, I'll definitely look into what is available near me. The Badgers sounds really interesting, I hadn't heard of that one before, but doesn't look like there is one anywhere near to me unfortunately.

It sounds like it really comes down to what the local groups offer as to what activities they do and how good it is, so I guess I will get in touch with the local groups to get a bit more info. I have to admit I like the sound of scouts more, it sounds like it might be a bit more fun for my DD, although I also think she'd benefit from an all female setting, especially as she is quite shy and tends to withdraw around boys. I might try her out at both if I can.

And thanks for all the tips about waiting lists, I hadn't even considered that! I'll get signed up asap.

I'm a Brownie leader. I would ask around to see what different groups are like and see what would be the best fit for your DD.

What activities different units do depends on their leaders. Don't assume that Scouting = adventure and Guiding = craft, whatever other people's experiences might have been. My Brownies go camping, and do activities such as canoeing, climbing, night hikes, playing football, cycling, DIY stuff, as well as craft and games. Choose the unit that will best suit your DD and where she'll flourish.

My two eldest children are boys and went through Beavers, Cubs and Scouts. The groups they were in, particularly Beavers, were full of boisterous little boys. Not overly naughty but like excitable puppies and very loud. I decided to try Rainbows for my daughter as I felt she would find it a bit too noisy.

Her Rainbows leader was actually my boys' Beavers leader, so I'm confident she's not particularly missing out on things she might have done in Beavers. I remember going to pick up the boys at the end of a session and listen to the leader ask the kids to get in a circle for the end of session routine. Then ask them again. And again. Then get a bit crosser. Then call the last stragglers over by name etc. At Rainbows that same leader says 'ok girls get in the circle' and they all just get in the circle. I know not all girls are better behaved than boys but in my experience, in a group situation, Rainbows groups are much calmer - which suits my daughter and a lot of other little girls I know, but probably wouldn't suit all.

This is a concern for me with my daughter, she feels overshadowed by boys and she literally won't go on anything in the playground if boys are on it. Hoping she gets more confident around them but I'm not sure what age that will happen.

Very much depends on the local leaders imo.

If she feels overpowered by boys then Rainbows might be preferable. Its not a lifetime commitment, they can switch as they get older if they prefer to try the other (waiting lists dependent). My eldest did Rainbows then Beavers when we moved (and I moved from Rainbow leader to Cub leader... the place we moved to had made the pragmatic decision of not having enough adults for guides and scouts so had gone just scouts)

We actually have more Girls then Boys in the Scout section, and it tends to be the "geekier" boys that stay... the boisterous ones drop it as football intensifies it seems whereas new girls start at 10.