Will Brownies help my Daughters confidence issues

[smellylittleorange]

Just wanted feedback from others about what their DD have gained from the Brownie environment. Dd is assertive, spirited and happy go lucky at home but since yrR has always been quiet studious and very respectful at school, she also gets overpowered for.want of a better word by bigger personalities. She likes working hard and doing well academically at school but I feel she.needs an outlet somewhere she can just be her true self. I realy hope Brownies can give her this but my older sister has said thingslike oh your Dd wil love it as she is girly and gentle like my Dd was and talking about how Brownies is just right for quieter ones?! I felt that the range of activities the group she wants to go to seems right and balanced also a bonus that she may meet girls not at her school , she has been with the same class all through primary and gets a bit lost I feel.
Please reeassure me, what has your Dd gained from attending Brownies?

[trice]

My dd loves being a Brownie. A lot of the tone of the group is set by the leaders. If they are outgoing and involved with lots of activities your dd could be putting on shows, camping, climbing, cooking, sailing and walking with llamas before she knows it.

[SminkoPinko]

Can't hurt, can it? Give it a go!

My brownie pack was shite, having said that. The brown owl used to cry all the time! But that was more years ago than I care to remember and I think it's well worth seeing if your daughter likes it. If she doesn't there will be other things that come up for her in time.

[JoyceDivision]

Sounds just like my dd who is in rainbows, she absolutely loves it and is bouncing around when she comes out from each session, I would definately recommend it

[sausagebaconandtomatobutty]

my brownies this term are...

learning about other cultures, making craft & music from around the world, decorating easter eggs, under the sea themed evening, 50p walk which somehow always ends up at either the park or chip shop, funny that having a teddy bears picnic and having some exotic animals come to see us

that's on top of all the usual stuff of playing a variety of games, singing silly songs and getting muddy playing outside

brownies are led by what the girls what to do or should be
we guide them with their choices as obviously we can't do everything but what we do goes through phases -last half term we seemed to be cooking or eating most weeks, this time they want to do more craft and in the summer we will probably be out and about lots

[smellylittleorange]

Thanks all , guess I just want Dd to be more her at home personality rather than her 'school' personality which is like a subdued version of how I know,her. On holiday recently she was outgoing and confident in kids clubs I was so very proud. Guess this is an issue more to do with her personality than Brownies. fingers crossed she will enjoy leader has confirmed they have space so she will be starting shortly. Thanks all

[ThisIsMummyPig]

The thing about Brownies is that when they start at 7, they are mixing with girls aged between 7 and 10. That means that they are going to be a bit quieter than some of the older girls, who have been there, done that (although the programme constantly changes, or the leaders get bored). By the time they have been in a couple of years, they are the ones choosing the activities, and helping the little ones find their feet.

When they get too big for their boots the leaders pack them off to guides and wipe a tear from their eyes

[Bonsoir]

Brownies is quite like school in some ways as it is generalist. If you want your DD to experience "shining" socially, find her an activity she is truly passionate about.

[ZZZenAgain]

I think she could really enjoy it but I doubt it will specifically help with the confidence issue. I always read that drama is good for this but have no experience of it and cannot help thinking that within a drama group, it will be the more outspoken types who will dominate pretty much the same as at school, just in a smaller group.

[Bonsoir]

My DD is quite quiet in class but very confident at drama. I think drama attracts a different sort of child and DD isn't put off by silly little boys mucking around as she is at school!

[PhyllisDoris]

We've had some girls who were really quiet and shy when they started Brownies, but who absolutely blossomed during their time with us. I don't particularly put this down to anything we do at Brownies, but I think it helps that it's a much less formal atmosphere than school, where girls as young as 7 are encouraged to organise things for themselves.
I also think we are able to get closer to girls than teachers do as we do loads of sleepovers and days out together. We also don't have a curriculum to follow, or targets to meet. I see us as more of a cross between a teacher and a mum.
There is something for everyone at Brownies, but units do vary as Leaders can interpret the programme as they like.

[stormforce10]

campcooper sorry I'm reporting this as advertising which you ahv eto pay for on mumsnet. Also it appears to be more for international student since the high fees include 20 hours of english teaching a week which presumably the OPs dd can speak.

OP my dd joined Brownies a few months ago. She sounds very like your dd in character. I'm already seeing a difference in her. She has already been asked to buddy a new starter of about her own age and she's so proud that she's been asked. She loves working and playing with the older girls and says everyone is friendly and wants her to be involved. I would definately say give it a try. You don't have to get the uniform for a few weeks so all you'd lose intially would be a few weeks subs which are fairly low anyway. Really hope she likes it

[mayihaveaboxofchoculaits]

it does depend on your dd and the brownie group to be honest.
In theory it should work wonders in so many ways, and your daughter sounds like a good fit, so go for it.But do listen to her, if she doesnt like it ,it might be down to the group and you can try other things instead.
DD1 got more out of acting group (again depends on the group ethos and social mix).
Good luck with the experimenting!