? Scouts (Boy/Girl) Question on Lack of Adult Participation
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| Thu, 10-04-2012 - 12:40pm |
My mind wanders a lot and I've been recently thinking about why it is so difficult for us to get adults to fill positions in scouts. And when Cheryl recently said a parent asked her why she isn't leading the Wolf den (when Cheryl doesn't even have a 2nd grader) I started thinking again.
Do you think it has anything to do with the fact that many of the programs we have kids in after school are led by people we pay- dance, music, gymnastics, even some sports. Or by teachers after school (either paid or volunteer). And that parents are of the mindset that these activities exist because someone is already appointed to be doing them with the child when they go to sign up the child.
And do you think that the lack of adult help comes from the fact that there are so many things out there as options that parents are overwhelmed and spread thin- either by trying to get multiple kids to things at the same time or by even a single kid being able to participate in a lot of different activities- so parents don't feel the need to step up because if something isn't working they won't miss it and there's something else to fill the gap (including just plain time at home).
-Jen
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Here are reasons I see for why parents are not more involved:
1. They work. Either both parents have a job, or the single parent may have more than one job. Parents want their kids to have the experience, but don't have time to do more than drop and run.
2. They have more than one kid to get to places and do things with. I have three. If they all were in scouts, in my area they probably would be in different groups that meet the same day. different places. We do 4-H because they take multi-ages. Although it used to be 4-H was a drop and go thing, it is now becoming parent there is mandatory, which I think is sad as parents are running things instead of the kids like it was when I was in 4-H.
3. Parents are trying to have their kids do it all, and are scheduled for more things than they can actually handle.
4. Location. Schools and scouts used to be for small areas, in towns, where kids could walk. Now we have lots of suburbs and schools have kids from far away. This means more travel time, less face time. If this is after work, parents are having to hurry supper, which may mean fast food instead of a good meal, and given the push to eat healthy, parents do want to do that, which takes time.
I suspect the economy has something to do with it as well - more people taking work home because they want to be sure they are the "good" employee when it comes time for cuts. Also, more 2 parent working families because one parent had to take a lower paying job or such.
Ramona Mom to 2 great kids and wife to one wonderful hubby since 1990!
I think that many moms will not volunteer to help a boy group because they think the dad should do it & lots of the dads are intimidated to work with the little guys unless it is sports related. (I imagine it th the opposite for the girls)
I think many parents want scouting for their child, but they want their child to be dropped and picked up without anything coming home. Not many kids finish things that are sent home ie charting chores. I don't know how many times a kid tells me he didn't bring his chart back because didn't do it, but the parent emails that he did.
I think the cub program in my area would be overflowing if we had all of the meetings afterschool in the gym / cafeteria and didn't require any parents in attendance. Typcially any of the after school programs are filled to overflowing - even the expensive ones.
Ramona Mom to 2 great kids and wife to one wonderful hubby since 1990!
I'm just trying to get some perspective and ideas.
I really want to make my son's cub scout group continue to function, but I am just not getting the most adults to do anything- yet each one says they want their child to continue in this group and not switch to a different one.
And my Girl Scout mom's who used to be pretty responsive are just not responding at all anymore. It's a bit frustrating.
-Jen
Ramona Mom to 2 great kids and wife to one wonderful hubby since 1990!