smallhobbit | There's still a lot to do

Four weeks in and I'm slowly learning some of the new girls' names. Of course, there are one or two who I learnt quite quickly, but the majority are taking longer to stick. Or else I've learnt the name but apply it to the wrong girl. I'm not alone.

We've continued with me running a game as soon as the girls arrive, so they don't have a chance to run riot which on the whole is working quite well, although last night it felt like we were going on for too long - Doodles, the leader had had to speak to a parent just before we were due to start.

Last week, with Doodles away, we tried finger knitting. Two of the district team came to help - one because we needed an extra leader, one simply as a spare pair of hands, so the Brownies could work in their sixes with one adult per six. Finger knitting is a bit like crochet, but using an index finger instead of a crochet hook - I found it easier just to make the loops without putting the wool on my finger. In the six I was working with, two of the Brownies found it very easy and happily sat and made long tails of wool; one I worked hard with because she will give up if she can't do something first time and getting her to be positive about her efforts can be difficult, but in the end she was successful, although the loops were rather large - I said to her "You've made chain mail" and she replied "Great. I've always wanted to be a knight. And three totally failed to get the idea, and started to get bored. However one seemed quite happy about it when her father collected her, so it was all good.

We finished by playing games again and then this week was more games. This time there was a parachute and skipping ropes, and various other more structured games. It's all going well, but as leaders we're agreed it will be easier once we know the girls a bit better. Implementing the new programme is going to be quite a challenge unless we have some idea of their capabilities.

As for my overall thoughts - I'm not entirely sure. Although the new space is great for games etc, we haven't used it much for more structured activities, which I shall be doing after half term. Also there's nowhere to wash stuff up, other than the sinks in the girls' toilets. I really like Doodles, and think she's doing a great job, and we seem to be on the same wavelength. I still have some concerns about the leader-in-training; she does tend to check up on her own daughter during the evening, and doesn't seem to see why she shouldn't. And I'm preparing an activity for Remembrance which will include remembering not only the British and French dead, but also the German, and she queried why I was including the German. My reply was that all suffered. Fortunately Doodles backed me up.

Next week we start preparing for a large enrolment - 15 new Brownies. The pack is full and we have a waiting list, although fortunately not all on the list are old enough to start yet.

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From:

stonepicnicking_okapi

Good to hear what you're up to!

smallhobbit

Thank you :)

scfrankles

I said to her "You've made chain mail" and she replied "Great. I've always wanted to be a knight. I like that ^___^ (And for once I've got a relevant icon... ^^)

I appreciate it must be difficult with the leader-in-training - it's always awkward when you're not on the same wavelength with someone. But I'm glad to hear on the whole everything is going well. And good luck with remembering everybody's names ^___^

Indeed - I can just see this Brownie taking the part of your icon.

Yes - I think it would be hard if she were the main leader, but as it is so far it's going okay.