Kids..........ya gotta love 'em

I may or may not have mentioned that I run a Brownie unit with a friend of mine..... we a job sharing Brown Owls. Brownies are girls aged between 7 and 10 years old, and believe me, at that age it is a huge age gap. At seven they are sweet and innocent, little girls still; by 10 they are on the cusp of being teenagers, but still generally sweet and innocent.

We do various things with them, activities (boating on the river, bowling - always a favourite), craft (they love all things pink) and badges. This term we decided to do the Crime Prevention Badge. Now sometimes, especially as I don't have children myself, it is hard to gauge what they will know about and what they won't, also I did not want them to worry about crime.

I started the session asking if they knew what crime was, and if they could think of any examples. One of the younger Brownies explained crime as something bad that you aren't supposed to do - not bad for a 7 year old. One of the older Brownies knew that crime was when you break the law - spot on! The I asked if they knew any examples of crime........robbery and burglary came up as expected, as did murder though I had to assure them that murder is not too common. One of the younger Brownies then asked in a stage whisper if she was allowed to mention alcohol and drugs.

I had then had to explain that alcohol was illegal for them as their age (you sometimes have to bend the truth slightly) but not adults, and drugs you got from the doctor if you are sick are okay, but certain drugs are illegal. I then asked if anyone knew the names of illegal drugs and alcohol and cigarettes where suggested (oh the innocence, if only they kept those thoughts!). The Brownie who knew what crime was, was able to name heroin and cocaine as examples.....do they know too much?

I had to struggle to keep a straight face when a little later I was asked by another Brownie, in all seriousness, where you got illegal drugs from. I explained that you bought them from criminals. The enquiring mind of the child was not settled there............where do the criminals get them from.......and then suddenly I was having to explain that most drugs are grown in south east Asia or south America and then smuggled to other countries........then followed an explanation of smuggling.

Next term we will stick to a craft type badge I think!!!!