It’s not much different for a four-year-old to join Rainbows

We’re really excited to announce that this month more than 1,400 units will be starting to take in four-year-olds.

For more than 30 years, Rainbow units in Ulster have been taking in four-year-olds. We held a consultation earlier this year and found that some Rainbow units in England, Scotland and Wales wanted to do the same. It's a great opportunity for our youngest section as more girls will get to enjoy guiding, waiting lists are reduced more and units open across the UK.

We spoke to Leeona Rice, a Rainbow leader from Ulster to find out what it’s like for four-year-old Rainbows.

‘I’ve been a Rainbow leader in Ulster for 18 years and have always welcomed four-year-old girls to our unit,' she says. 'I never had any qualms about it as that’s the way it’s always been. I also never worried about if I had loads of four-year-olds compared to five- or six-years-olds in my unit either.

'We have 20 girls in our unit and they enjoy a varied programme based on what the girls want to do, although during lockdown we had virtual sessions that have mostly been leader-led activities.'

The beginning of the term

'At the beginning of each term, we get the girls to draw things that they like, for example their favourite colour, toy, game, place, food or TV programme and then we’ll chat about these. If the girl is shy, which can be any age, then I’ve found drawing works best and the leader sitting beside her during the chat can talk on her behalf to the group. It usually doesn’t take long for them all to find their voice!

'Sometimes the girls find it easier to say what they like to watch on TV, or do at home, or what game they like to play at home, and we write those down to see how we can incorporate those things into our programme. If any of the four-year-olds are unable to read or write we’ll help them as leaders.

'We make placemats every year by decorating a page with the child’s name on and laminating it. When they’ve made something during the meeting, they set it on these mats and then they know which one is theirs when it comes to home time. Four-year-olds can’t always write their name, so this eliminates the need for that.'

Helping hand

'Some young girls will need more help but then again some are fiercely independent too. You get to know the individual girl. Sometimes the leaders cut out the younger one’s craft and the older girls would cut out their own. If the older Rainbow has finished we encourage them to help the younger ones if they can.

'We work in small groups and spread the younger ones out between the different leaders if we think they need more leader help.'

Volunteers

'Four-year-olds can sometimes be very shy and we use this as an opportunity to get their mums to stay and be a parent helper. This has helped to get us volunteers in the past. I always welcome parents to stay for the first night as they know their child best.

'By aged four, the majority are at playschool and don’t tend to look for friends as they come in the door. They can be happy just playing with themselves at the beginning of our meetings when we set our sports equipment for free play.

'We do buddy them up with an older Rainbow, especially if they know each other, if that helps them settle in on their first night. Our leaders tend to play games with the girls as they arrive, and we try to give every child a warm welcome when they come in the door.

'I would also text the parent to say they got on well on their first night too. Some parents stay for a few minutes and then slip away. Occasionally some of the little ones have cried coming to Rainbows the first few times until they settle in. The ones with older sisters at the unit are more than happy to be at Rainbows and happily wave goodbye to mum or dad.'