How Parents Can Help on a Group Night

No two groups are the same, however for any group which has a rota of helpers it can be useful to have a few suggestions as to what is expected of people. Below are the suggestions from an elfin group who meet once a week with two core leaders who do most of the planning and a number of parents who stay less frequently.

A typical group evening consists of the following things (in order):

• Games
• Circle time (with drinks)
• An activity (Craft/Singing/Other exciting things)

Occasionally our program deviates from this basic format but usually the above format can be recognised even if it is not strictly followed. Normally the group leaders plan and run the activity together with leading the games and the circle time. It can therefore be difficult for a parent to understand exactly what they can do to help. The following is a list of suggestions that you may find helpful. There is no need to follow all of these suggestions but they do allow the group to run more smoothly as a result. In particular there is no need for any parent to do things they are not comfortable with, for example taking money. Similarly some parents may not be capable of joining in the games, this is fine.

• Arrive promptly (preferably five minutes early) so we can let the other parents go home.
• Take the money but since it is important not to make mistakes please ask if you are not sure how we do it.
• Help make the hall safe for games.
  • Make sure piles of chairs are stacked no more than five high (so they can not topple on the children).
  • Some games involve charging up and down the length of the hall so make sure the chairs and tables are piled so as to make a 'flat' shape and that children can not damage themselves on upturned tables.
• Join in the with the games - we always explain the rules before we start and children enjoy playing games with adults (particularly the ones they catch!)
• Make the drinks for circle time - we usually have a drink and a biscuit during circle time which someone has to make while everyone is playing the games.
• Help the children settle into the activity, if you can understand what we are doing or making you will be able to help the children.
• Wash the cups after the drinks - once the children have settled into the activity it is helpful to wash the cups, its a dreadful job to be left with when everyone has gone home.
• Do not feel obligated to monitor or control the behaviour of your own child closely. Parents often embarrassed by the behaviour of their pride and joy at activities like Woodcraft. Rest assured that we'll try to tell them off in the same way whether you are helping or not.

Finally we don't want to keep all the best bits to ourselves. If you want to be more involved, for example perhaps you would like to run the games (which is not as hard as some folk think) or plan a craft (which is less difficult on the night but to be successful often requires some advance planning) you would be very welcome. We encourage anyone interested in this to discuss it with us. Even better consider coming along to a planning meeting and bringing it up then.