Games and Activities

[smallhobbit]

No Brownies last week, as I was the only available leader, and I can't run the unit on my own.

This week Doodles was back, so she and I were present.  She ran the activities - I'm definitely taking a step back, but am happy to help and enable the meeting to go ahead with my presence.  It began with reminding the Brownies once again about the rules for the meeting - nothing onerous: listening and not talking while the leaders are explaining things, no screaming. 

There's definitely still a loss of social skills as an effect of covid, which causes problems when the Brownie programme assumes a certain level of such skills.  There's a lot of working together in small groups, which the girls generally learn as they join Brownies, so disruption is much less, whereas we have two years who have little experience of this.  Another reason why I shall be leaving - yes, I know there's a role for Brownies in re-educating the girls, I just don't want to be doing it.

Another effect is the continued loss Girlguiding has had of leaders, which will hit our unit come the summer.  Peacock is having a baby at the end of June, and I leave at the end of the summer, which means there will only be two leaders for the unit, although Peacock plans on returning in the autumn.  It's as well that I named a leaving date, rather than 'when you get a replacement' because I doubt I'd have ever left.

Anyway, this week we began with an activity for International Women's Day which looked at whether the Brownies believed certain jobs were for men or women.  Their expectations were higher than might have been feared, although nurses were still predominantly female (which does reflect actual life, I agree) and, rather suprisingly, shop assistants were male.

After which there were activities looking at the properties of various balls (football, tennis ball, rugby ball etc), which was designed to show different balls are suitable for different activities.

And we finished with awarding a couple of interest badges which the Brownies had worked for during the half term break: one Baking and one Performing.

Comments

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

Nice to hear what you're up to.

[smallhobbit]

Thank you!

[ride_4ever]

As a former Brownie and Girl Scout, I have wondered, along with my other COVID wonderments, how Brownies, Scouts, and Guides have been affected by the decreased socialization and the understaffing of leadership. So good that you have continued your involvement during the past two years.

[smallhobbit]

I do think decreased socialization has had a major impact - before covid there would always be a number of Brownies who found working within a group hard, but frequently as they made their way through the group they would change, so that a 7 year old total pain would become a 10 year old asset who we'd be sorry to see moving onto Guides. Now, it seems to be the majority who fail to consider the rest of the group.

[ride_4ever]

At least you have still got them attending.

[rusty_armour]

It's sad to read about the effect the pandemic has had on children's social skills -- not that it's surprising. Children are quite resilient, so maybe the Brownies will start behaving more appropriately when they've been working with each other a little longer, though I suspect the leaders will have to remind them of the rules for a while.

You were smart to give an actual date for your departure if it seems unlikely that the unit will be able to get a replacement leader. At least you're staying until the end of summer and have given them tons of notice. You certainly deserve this "retirement" after all your years of service!

[smallhobbit]

Yes, I think matters will gradually improve, but it will take time. I'm very pleased I gave a date because it doesn't feel like I'm turning round and deserting them.

[aome]

What sorts of social loss are you seeing? I suspect children the world over are struggling with multiple delays these days.

[smallhobbit]

Harder than usual to work in groups, lack of attention, more selfish ie having less awareness of others. Too many queen bees buzzing around. Too wrapped up in their own activities to be aware the leaders are expecting attention.