All Right Ladies Need Your Help Here

[KAMKIM]

I am in charge of next months Brownie meeting. I was thinking about doing a spa day for the girls. I wanted to do maybe 4 stations, we have 8 girls so two at each station at a time. I wanted to do a wax parafin wax station, a manicure station to get their nails painted, a facial peel and moisturizing station, and a toe nail painting station.

I have to put some kind of educational spin on this meeting - any ideas? What could I discuss with them about this meeting? For most part i just want us to have a good time, and I was thinking about letting them come in their jammies and relaxing and being a pampered a little.

Since it is the beginning of December as well I was going to ask them to bring in a small toy to give to a toys for tots program or something....

I have 2 hours for the meeting.

 

[Stacerita]

I would skip the facial peel station and go with a cleansing/moisturizing/sun screen protection station. You could then "teach" them about facial hygeine and skin protection.

Manicure station, I would also teach about the importance of hand washing, before you paint the nails.

Toes, instruct them to cut across to avoid painful ingrowns. Also teach them that wearing good support shoes is important to good foot health.

Not sure what you can do about the parafin wax station.

Hope this helps.

 

[RNMOM]

I think hygene would do it. Good handwashing, moisturizing your skin to keep it healthy and how to look for problems with your feet would cover it pretty well. You might be able to find a few pamphlets with a podiatrist for example about how to cut your nails and such.

 

[KAMKIM]

I would skip the facial peel station and go with a cleansing/moisturizing/sun screen protection station. You could then "teach" them about facial hygeine and skin protection.

Manicure station, I would also teach about the importance of hand washing, before you paint the nails.

Toes, instruct them to cut across to avoid painful ingrowns. Also teach them that wearing good support shoes is important to good foot health.

Not sure what you can do about the parafin wax station.

Hope this helps.

Oh that is awesome...thanks!

 

[EthansMom]

My DD isn't in Brownies but I'd personally be offended if her Brownie troop did a "beauty" spa thing (waxing for little girls?). I wouldn't be offended if the activities were more hygiene-related than beauty-related.

IMO, we do our daughters a disservice if we start teaching them about changing themselves to "be beautiful" at a young age. They are already beautiful, each in her own right, and shouldn't be worried about garnering others' attention too early in life.

Another hygiene item you might consider: brushing teeth and flossing (my kids use the pre-strung flossers, which come flavored). I like the idea of talking about moisturizing... you might consider discussing the importance of using sunscreen at the same time.

I hope this helps!

 

[KAMKIM]

My DD isn't in Brownies but I'd personally be offended if her Brownie troop did a "beauty" spa thing (waxing for little girls?). I wouldn't be offended if the activities were more hygiene-related than beauty-related.

IMO, we do our daughters a disservice if we start teaching them about changing themselves to "be beautiful" at a young age. They are already beautiful, each in her own right, and shouldn't be worried about garnering others' attention too early in life.

Another hygiene item you might consider: brushing teeth and flossing (my kids use the pre-strung flossers, which come flavored). I like the idea of talking about moisturizing... you might consider discussing the importance of using sunscreen at the same time.

I hope this helps!

It's not waxing as in waxing their legs, its a hand mold they peel off their hands.

 

[KAMKIM]

My DD isn't in Brownies but I'd personally be offended if her Brownie troop did a "beauty" spa thing (waxing for little girls?). I wouldn't be offended if the activities were more hygiene-related than beauty-related.

IMO, we do our daughters a disservice if we start teaching them about changing themselves to "be beautiful" at a young age. They are already beautiful, each in her own right, and shouldn't be worried about garnering others' attention too early in life.

Another hygiene item you might consider: brushing teeth and flossing (my kids use the pre-strung flossers, which come flavored). I like the idea of talking about moisturizing... you might consider discussing the importance of using sunscreen at the same time.

I hope this helps!

I dont see how waxing their hands and washing their faces are changing them or how they look, can you clarify?

 

[EthansMom]

I dont see how waxing their hands and washing their faces are changing them or how they look, can you clarify?

My feeling is that some of the activities you initially describe are more appropriate for grown women (or teen girls). Brownies are what... about 8 years old, right? They hardly need to have chemical peels or wax treatments (even just on their hands)... or even to be learning about such things, yet.

There's a difference between learning age-appropriate ways to take care of their bodies and subtly learning that their current appearance doesn't measure up.

I have a 5 year old daughter. On the one hand, I want her to FEEL pretty. On the other hand, I don't want her to feel that she has to change herself in order to BE pretty. And someplace in the middle, I know that, especially as she gets older, hygiene, skin care, and beauty regimine may help her fit in socially. However, I find that I ALREADY (yes, at 5) have to fight outside influences (DD's young friends, television ads, etc..) that are teaching DD that she should alter her appearance (use makeup, be thinner, etc...) in order to be more attractive to others.

So, I think it's all in how it's handled.... whether you approach it as "let's make ourselves pretty" or "let's learn how to take good care of our skin, nails, hair, etc..."

I hope this helps!

 

[georgina]

I understand what you're saying Ethansmom. I have no idea what the hand wax thing is, and think a facial peel would be over the top also. My 14 year old has never had a manicure! (And neither have I, because that is not important to me.) I had co-leader once who liked to do this type of thing with the girls - she would take them to Limited 2 to do fashion shows and a hair salon to do hair care, and I would do the math, science, and nature activities. We had to compromise about what we thought the girls should be learning. The tone of the OP bugged me a little - this is what I want to do, how do I put an "educational spin" on it.

 

[amg35]

I think it's sweet and fun and pretty much innocent. I don't think you are trying to make them vain and looks obsessed.

The hand wax would actually be fun for them! They have a wax mold on their hands that they can peel off! I don't think it will scar them for life.

Little girls like to paint their nails. Most anyways.

Maybe skip the facial.

I like your intentions, hope it works out!

 

[IDoDis]

My feeling is that some of the activities you initially describe are more appropriate for grown women (or teen girls). Brownies are what... about 8 years old, right? They hardly need to have chemical peels or wax treatments (even just on their hands)... or even to be learning about such things, yet.

There's a difference between learning age-appropriate ways to take care of their bodies and subtly learning that their current appearance doesn't measure up.

I have a 5 year old daughter. On the one hand, I want her to FEEL pretty. On the other hand, I don't want her to feel that she has to change herself in order to BE pretty. And someplace in the middle, I know that, especially as she gets older, hygiene, skin care, and beauty regimine may help her fit in socially. However, I find that I ALREADY (yes, at 5) have to fight outside influences (DD's young friends, television ads, etc..) that are teaching DD that she should alter her appearance (use makeup, be thinner, etc...) in order to be more attractive to others.

So, I think it's all in how it's handled.... whether you approach it as "let's make ourselves pretty" or "let's learn how to take good care of our skin, nails, hair, etc..."

I hope this helps!

I agree. While it sounds fun, it's really not an age-appropriate activity for Brownies (age 6-8). These are children, not adults. No, they won't be scarred for life if you do the activity, but ask yourself if this is something related to the scouting activities.

Check the Brownie handbook for things they can do to earn badges. Sewing something simple like a pillow, making some holiday decorations or ornaments for a senior center...

 

[amg35]

I agree. While it sounds fun, it's really not an age-appropriate activity for Brownies (age 6-8). These are children, not adults. No, they won't be scarred for life if you do the activity, but ask yourself if this is something related to the scouting activities.

Check the Brownie handbook for things they can do to earn badges. Sewing something simple like a pillow, making some holiday decorations or ornaments for a senior center...

I guess I don't see the difference in this or taking little girls to the place at Disney that dresses them up like princesses, where they do their hair and put make up on them.

When I was in Brownies, our leader had a sleepover and we did things like this, my mom has pictures.

Don't ask me what we did in Girl Scouts.

 

[nskjerven]

the stations you are talking about are also labor intense. Do the moms all help? I had a AG Spa bday party for my dd at age 8. Her gs troup would have loved it (but as her leader, I'd never put that much effort into a meeting

I had 4 stations :

relaxation - layed on the lounger with cucumber slices on their eye lids

nail station - mini manicure hand soak and polish

pedicure station - foot bath and polish

lastly I hired a hair stylist for up dos. (too pricey for GS)

we had one little girl that didn't like the idea when she heard it was a spa party. She thought it was way too girly. For her I created a book nook. I place with a bunch of books and pillows. After the party she liked the spa idea because she could choose what stations she wanted to try. That was the key to the sucess of the party, each girl got to choose what they wanted to enjoy, no one was forced to any station. I also had healthy fruit snacks and lots of water to enjoy

ok, I have to post a few pics it's one of my favorites ever....

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[redrosesix]

I love the idea of the manicures but I can see how some mothers wouldn't go along with some of these things for that age group. But one of the stations you could add is a yoga station -- the best spas, where you stay overnight, do this. Just pick a few yoga poses to teach to the girls to relax and stretch.

I was going to add that one underlying theme you might consider is nutrition -- healthy nails, healthy hair, healthy skin, healthy bodies -- they all come from eating properly, usually some of the things that girls that age would normally not want to indulge in.

 

[mhsjax]

Little girls get manicure and pedicures all the time, this is hardly telling them that they have to change to be beautiful, I think some people are way to extreme on the other end. And I agree with the pp who said it isn't a whole lot different that dressing them up like princesses. I suppose letting them dress like someone who find prince charming and gets taken care of the rest of their life is ok? but teaching them about a little beauty while mixed with some educational stuff is out of the question. Seems a little out of wack to me.

 

[a1tinkfans]

I am thinking that perhaps it could be geared more towards community service....making cards for military..collecting pinecones and decorating to donate.....visiting a veterans/senior home to sing....I am not judging here, but while I was a den leader and then a Pack leader for Scouts, we really tried to focus on the "service" aspects heavily and though we had lots of fun projects and experiences especially thru our events division (overnight at museum, Globetrotters, Circus, Car races, canoe trip, basball trip etc etc) , the real thrust of our meetings wereas community and learning............guess I just am missing something here....is this what little Brownies do??? SPA/nails....do you bring in a nurse or use it as a "teaching" experience????? Actually TWO of my cubs are on their way to EAGLE scouts and I am thrilled for them......such a great group of boys.....now in HS!
Again, Just another view, I guess.....

 

[lovetoscrap]

Our leader makes every meeting centered on the Try It's they are earning. There are so many activities in the Try It's book I would probably see if there is anything on health and hygiene in there and springboard from that. I think our particular Council stresses that the meetings should be about working on their badges. Even our outings all have something to do with a badge they are working on.

The spa thing sounds fun with some of the modifications suggested here about focusing on the hygiene. I would also check with the parent's to be sure they are okay with it. In my house, for instance, we don't allow nail polish at that age and I would not be happy for my Brownie to come home with any (no flames people, you parent your way, I parent mine!) . If you do the wax thing I would really stress the "Do NOT try this at home!". I can totally see some of the girls in DD's troup trying to melt a bunch of candles on the stove to do that "cool hand thing" again!

 

[nskjerven]

Wow strong feelings about what is the RIGHT way to have a meeting for girl scouts

Girl Scouts has always been presented to me (as a leader for 7+ years now) what you make it.

My girls do TONS of community service BUT that doesn't mean that sometimes we don't just endulge the girls and have a ME meeting. Perhaps that is why my girls are still happy being together after all these years and still in scouts

When my girls were younger we did really focus ALOT on badges & try its but I have to say that they didn't always enjoy all the WORK aspect involved in those awards. (in hind sight I wish we did more of the fun back then, they grow up so fast and can have a lifetime of good works, it's nice to just make someone feel really special and that's sooooo easy to do when they are little girls)

My .02 cents I think it's okay to embrace beauty both on the inside and out. It's a part of life for these girls can't keep them in a bubble forever

 

[nskjerven]

I am thinking that perhaps it could be geared more towards community service....making cards for military..collecting pinecones and decorating to donate.....visiting a veterans/senior home to sing....I am not judging here, but while I was a den leader and then a Pack leader for Scouts, we really tried to focus on the "service" aspects heavily and though we had lots of fun projects and experiences especially thru our events division (overnight at museum, Globetrotters, Circus, Car races, canoe trip, basball trip etc etc) , the real thrust of our meetings wereas community and learning............guess I just am missing something here....is this what little Brownies do??? SPA/nails....do you bring in a nurse or use it as a "teaching" experience????? Actually TWO of my cubs are on their way to EAGLE scouts and I am thrilled for them......such a great group of boys.....now in HS!
Again, Just another view, I guess.....

For the record, Boy Scouts is a WHOLE other ball of wax. I have one of those too. What boys and girls do at these young ages are so extreme. My daughter and her troop would not be happy playing the rough housing games that the boy scouts played at the same ages.

Organizationally girl scouts do not have "packs" and pack meetings like boy scouts. We (girl scouts) are council based and the difference between the 2 groups for my kids are 40-50 in the pack (10 in his den) and 1000 girls in the council (5-10 in a troop) of girl scouts.

and for the record my Eagle Scout nephew just graduated from Navy Boot Camp today, so we as a family have a big value on community and service (my son plans to follow the footsteps of his cousin)

 

[IDoDis]

I guess I don't see the difference in this or taking little girls to the place at Disney that dresses them up like princesses, where they do their hair and put make up on them.

When I was in Brownies, our leader had a sleepover and we did things like this, my mom has pictures.

Don't ask me what we did in Girl Scouts.

But without the princess dresses and tierras, a 6 year old would look ridiculous walking around wearing a bunch of makeup. Kind of Jon Benet Ramsey-ish.

If the OP wants to have a party for her troop outside of a scout meeting and do this activity, I say yeah, sounds like fun. It's just not something I would expect to happen at a brownie meeting. Teach the kids this age to love their inner-selves, not their outer-selves.