Scouts for boys and girls

Were you a scout or guide?Do you have happy memories of spending time outdoors or does the thought of a couple of days away from home and modern technology and comforts make you scared? Surely you can survive without a computer for a couple of days- or would you sneak an ipad or tablet into the essentials pile of things to take?

Scouts was formed in the early 1900s in England by Baden Powell as a way of passing on useful skills to youngsters in an outdoor setting. Within a few years girls and boys were enjoying ‘scouting’ in their free time– living in tents, cooking their own food and learning through games.


Scouts has since grown to have over 41 million members worldwide by 2011 and aims to be voluntary and open to all young people with no regard to race, religious belief or origin. Scouts have uniforms and the famous ‘woggle.’



Through participating in activities,scouts earn badges showing their successes and competency in a variety of areas from cooking to sports, knot tying to orienteering. It is a great way to get kids outdoors and in some cases outside their comfort zones in a safe environment.

The kids are broken into different age groups and has sections in each country which are used to keep similar ages together. The Australian movement is for both boys and girls and is split as follows:

Our family friends are involved in scouts and as we look at the options for the girls this year, scouts will definitely be one of the options on the table. Fostering identity and team spirit is a great alternative provided through scouts rather than the simple desire to win (individually or as a team) that regular sporting or extra curricular school activities provide.

I’d love to hear your memories of scouts or how your children are currently enjoying scouts.

Euan

Shooting hoops

We have a new addiction in the family!

With the arrival of a full size basketball hoop and basketball, we are ready to welcome a new age of ball skills, throwing and catching activities and the introduction to future team sport (be it netball or basketball).

 

 

The construction of a flatpack basketball stand and hoop is stuff for another post, but needless to say it was hot, heavy and challenging in 30 degree heat!

Once standing, we soon realised that at the top of the driveway on a hill is not the most conducive to 6 and 8 year olds trying to shoot their first baskets up hill! It also highlights the need to teach how to throw a basketball for a youngster, a push throw/set shot is the most likely to make the distance. Once we lowered the hoop, the thrill of actually getting a basket could be shared more readily. The look on our youngest's face when she shot her first hoop was priceless.

 

 

Understanding that there are clear methods of throwing also helps, having a strong model makes things easier too.

Other than the banner advert, this link  is really useful when looking at how kids can learn to throw and play basketball.

 

 

So, whenever possible at the moment, we are out in the garden shooting hoops. When the kids go back to school we will look at basketball and netball and see which takes their fancy.

It will also be good when they get beyond the 'throw the ball and run' as they are no taware where it may come down. I guess in all sports, self preservation is also an important skill but will probably not lead to a future world champion in the making!!

 

 

This clip shows the basic shots in basketball and whilst missing the glory of the slamdunk, is pretty informative.

 

 

What do you think? Have you seen a better single video showing all of the different shots?

 

 

Euan