Shoes...

[Fox]

Our Brownies have been told to wear school shoes or trainers, their mums have been told they need to wear these, and they keep turning up in dolly shoes, leather boots, or Ugg-type boots. One of them insists she wears her white, sparkly, dolly shoes to school .

Last time I made her sit down during a game as I said her shoes were inappropriate. We did go out to walk somewhere and back (2 mins walk each way) and I am not sure where to draw the line on shoes. We haven't had any Crocs since the first meeting (which was the only one where it was even a little warm).

I've told the dolly-shoes wearers off every week but have been a bit lax on the boots-wearers. I'm not happy with them running around in Uggs though. I'd rather say "only these kind of shoes" and not keep banning more and more kinds, though - so although leather boots ARE practical for a short outside walk in the winter, I am not sure I should be saying they are OK in general.

What do you all do? Remind them every week? Make them sit down if you are playing games (and then, what if 3 out of the 5 members of one Six are in inappropriate shoes?)? Dock points? (we don't really do points... but we could start...) Send notes home?

[hljbz]

I'd send a little note home saying they need to wear trainers or sturdy shoes as other shoes are a h&s issue and means the girls will have to sit out of games.

[Fox]

For anything except trainers/school shoes? Do you include Uggs/leather boots?

I think it is probably right to say YES these types of shoes not NO these other types as you could go on and on adding to the list...

[catdrew]

we let ours in in ugg boots and leather boots. way i see it is they are unlikely to fly off while running. unlike crocks, sandals,slip ons or those flipping heelies which were a niusance at one point so we sent a letter home asking them to not let kids wear them.

i do make a point of if someone is wearing really rubbish shoes/jewellery hanging round neck/rings etc for the meeting to tell them not to again. i tend to be the mean guider who shouts at them for climbing on toddler equipment and not doing as they should be.

my current one is teddy bears and toys which they just have to bring. then wont leave alone. we almost had a pizza coloured mouse thing last night.

[Fox]

OK, I think I'm going to do message home verbally/sit out game consistently with slip-ons but ignore boots for the moment - but the message will say trainers/school shoes only for clarity. Will think about letters home after Christmas if/when I have more energy!

Very thankful the craze for heelies seems to have waned, we had one brother waiting for Mum in them and he stopped when told, and no girls have come in them.

[laughingowl]

I would add it to a newsletter or some other letter you are sending as an aside at first. I have to admit some schools are quite lax where shoes are concerned!

We made one of ours sit out and she now deliberately wears heels as she does not want to play running games - she might get sweaty!

[jolito]

I simply ask all new members to wear 'soft-soled shoes', with socks/tights (and remind them in the summer, no open-toed sandals). Crocs, UGGS, trainers, plimsols and school shoes (mostly) all fit in with this OK.

I love my Crocs and can chase a Brownie halfway across the car park in them! Other mules or slip-ons would be a no-no though!

[sliceofrice]

I think a note to parents is the way to go. I know taht at seven the girls should be able to dress themselves and pick out shoes, but if in a rush some parents may lay out their outfit before hand, including shoes.

[Toni Al]

I make them take their shoes and socks off and go barefeet if we are playing a game indoors at meetings - they are far more carfeul around those still wearing trainers

If going outside and they come in inappropriate shoes I let them get all muddy/wet etc and if they get spoiled I point out that the letters etc do state what kind of shoes are needed. They usually only ever spoil one pair of 'nice' shoes!

[laughingowl]

That is a great idea - am terrified of them breaking a leg though. I quite happily do it in school and make them go bare foot but it seems more scary doing it at Brownies! Somehow!