[caroline10]

My DD joined the local Girl Guides late last year. She was doing dancing prior to this which she quite enjoyed, but the school was very cliquey and by the end of the year she was a bit over it, and DH and I thought it might be good for her to do something that gave her a wider range of experiences and might help to build her confidence, as she is quite shy, which is why we chose the Guides.

Neither of us were overly impressed with the Guides the first time we took her along, as the leader was quite abrupt and quite disorganised, and the group seemed all over the place. However, since we wanted to give it a proper go, we decided to sign her up and see how she went. She has now just started Term 2 for this year, and we are still not happy. We don't feel like it is building her confidence at all - the activities they do are very, very basic; some of the girls are quite pushy, and neither DH or I like how the leader runs the group to be honest. DD was keen to go again this term, but I partly think this is because she feels bad about "quitting" as she's put it, and also it's now what she's familiar with iykwim. She hasn't really made friends with any of the girls, and I don't think she particularly enjoys most of the activities. This week she was quite abruptly pulled out of line for mistakenly 'pushing in', and she told me afterwards this made her upset for most of the rest of the class. But she is still saying she wants to stay.

I am not sure whether to just take her out, and perhaps re-enroll her in a dancing class, or perhaps a different Guides unit?? I am still not that keen to put her back in the dance school she was in before, it would probably need to be a new dance school but how do I know it won't be like the one she was at before?? I am also a bit reluctant to keep changing her from thing to thing as I don't want to just have her flitting from thing to thing with no commitment iykwim.

So...not really sure what to do...any advice appreciated, tia.

[Shhhh]

I would try a different unit

This post has been edited by Shhhh: 18/04/2012, 04:32 PM

[mummy2amelia]

I would try the other units too. Each Leader will be different and so will the group of girls. You just need to find the right group. your payment will transfer across to the new unit too, so nothing to lose.

[caroline10]

Would be nice to hear if there are any positive guide experiences out there?? Thanks.

[-*meh*-]

i would try a different unit.

my boy does scouts and we had a lot of problems with the first mob (official scout term not just being rude) we were with so moved to another and had a lot better experience and DS1 loves to go now (we are actually on to our 3rd mob as we moved).

if there are no other units in your area but want to try something similars girls can join scouts now as well.

[Autumnal]

Definatly try another unit.

DD was in a unit where we used to live and it was brilliant. Parent help was abundant and the girls had a wonderful time at each meeting.

A new unit opened up where we live now and it is lacking in SO many areas. We went for 5 weeks and ended up leaving. It was such a shame as DD LOVED going to our old unit (as did I)

[Autumnal]

You wouldnt happen to be in the Nelson Bay area would you?

[sg290780]

I know girls in guides ranging from 5-26 and leaders... My daughters are in gumnuts and brownie aged guide groups but you do have to find a good one unfortunately.

Still when you do it is worth it!

Good luck and if you let me know your area I may know of some good units - I have contacts all over

[caroline10]

No Autumnal, we're not in that area...but I am kind of relieved actually to hear that others have been through a similar kind of experience, so maybe looking at a different unit might be an option. I feel so let down by the experience my DD has had so far, as I have heard such good things about the Girl Guides and really felt like it had so much to offer her iykwim.

[Soccer Mum]

Hi OP, I was going to suggest scouts as well. (as long as the mob has quite a few girls so she isnt the only one). I did brownies, which I loved, although I had family friends going which helped, and then guides which I found boring. They didnt really do anything except sing songs, a little bit of craft and learn stuff like polishing silverware. Id never seen silverware. So I joined scouts, they did camping, hiking, canoeing etc etc and I loved it

Theres also nothing wrong with trying a few activities until she finds one she likes. Maybe she could do dance too if you can afford it.