Term started! It was good fun but our capacity is stretched and I accepted another 3 kids last night.
Technically it's ok because if I have a helper I'm still within ratio and if I don't have a helper I'm over ratio anyway so three more makes no difference. I just have to make sure we always have a helper.
I've learnt something though: The problem I've noticed over the last few weeks is that we can't play the running round games any more because we don't have room for the number of kids we have to play them safely.
We tried 'Fishes' - a girl tripped over. Then another tripped (more painfully). So we can't play that on a busy night.
We played 'Port/Starboard' last night and two girls fell over in the rush, so that one doesn't work either. I changed the game so they played with different movements - such as HOPPING TO PORT (translates as hop to the far right of the room), or SKIPPING TO BOW etc. That way we avoided any further injuries, but it's not brilliant.
I glossed over it and moved on to play The Princess and the Serving Girls (which most of them love) as it's quiet and slow. However they want to run around.
There are active games like 'Beans' where they mostly do actions on the spot (runner beans - run, jumping beans - jump, string beans - stretch up). If you can think of any I might not know - I'd love them.
I'm sure that as long as I keep them occupied with activities they enjoy the Brownies won't notice that we aren't playing the running games any more. I'm pleased that the unit seems to be thriving - and want to make sure that continues!
one step at a time.
13 comments:
There's Head to Head which we were taught by some American Brownies who visited us. You call out head to head and they have to find a partner and touch head to head. Anyone who doesn't, is out. Next you call elbow to elbow, and they must find a different partner. And so on till just two left, they are the winners. Avoid head to head if you're worried about nits! Bum to bum always goes down well!
And as for the numbers, yay you! Maybe these 3 have taken you to the maximum you should have in the hall? If you want to be active, there has to be an upper number. With 4 Guiders, we could have our unit up to 30 if we wanted, but when all 24 girls turn up we really notice our space is full.
hello! we used to do one when I was a brownie, can't remember exactly how it worked but we all stood in a circle and were numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 3, 4 etc and there was a rhyme that went "1 can stand like a poker, 2 can rabbity hop, 3 can make a lovely bow but 4 can do nothing but flop" and everyone did their actions (flopping is the best obviously!)... And I remember doing the Auntie Monica song with actions, do you know that one?! hmmm anyway, can you tell I'm on the train with nothing better to do than be a nosey parker and read your blog :) C x
Guider - Definitely full!! We have kids due to come up next year and only 2/3 old enough for Guides then... I'm sure over the summer term our numbers'll start to dwindle.
The hall's fairly big - but there was a big table 1/3 way down this week and I didn't move it before we started playing. That would have helped I think.
The head to head game sounds as though it could be funny!
I could always do 'I sent a letter to my love' - know that one? That only involves 2 people running.
I'm just learning which ones work with which numbers. Bear in mind my pack was only 14 strong when I took over - so on an average week we'd maybe have 10 turn up. I'm dead chuffed that they seem happy and our older ones are still coming too.
The Guides and Brownies could probably swap halls occasionally... I'll add that to the list of things to remember.
Catherine - I don't know the Auntie Monica song... teach me!
One of the new parents said her daughter was registered at another pack... I asked her to drop in and let them know that she wanted to transfer and we were happy to take her. I hope she did because it really annoyed me when one of mine swapped without anyone telling me she was going.
I don't know those games but they sound like fun!
The health and safety rules are spoiling a lot of fun. The above games sound great. Good luck
This sounds like a very active group!
YOu could do the 'bring me' game too. You sit in the middle with the girls in their sixes, all numbered off. You then say 'number 1, bring me a watch' the forst numbeer 1 to bring you a watch gets a point. You should only have 4 running at a time, that makes it easier.
I have never heard of any of those games...
good luck
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How about the newspaper islands game? Pair up girls and give them a double page newspaper sheet each. Both girls have to stand on it with nothing touching the floor. If they can do this (they will!) tell them to get off the paper, fold it in half and stand on it again. If they touch the floor, then that pair is out. All pairs that stay on the paper then fold the paper again and repeat. Our brownies love this game!
Sounds cool........... will try it next week as I think that could be a friends game if they're paired up randomly.
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