Help every girl shine!
1. Build on the strengths of each
Girl Scout. Show that you have a
positive attitude by focusing on what each girl can do, not on what she
can't. Your positive attitude will rub
off on her and help her develop a positive attitude about herself. By emphasizing her strengths, you will help
her develop her potential and grow in positive ways.
2. Don't hesitate to ask a girl
the best way for her to do something.
Make directions simple. Accompany
verbal directions with physical help if necessary, but don't do the project for
her. Affirm that she can succeed.
3. Offer help in small
doses. Do not hold all girls to a
uniform standard of performance. Vary
the amount of help and support given in a situation according to each girl's
physical and emotional state. Watch for
signs of fatigue, and alternate quiet and active activities.
4. Allow the girl to learn by
experience. Encourage her to find things
out for herself, but offer help and support when it is necessary to avoid
catastrophic failure or discouragement.
Rejoice with her when she achieves something important to her, no matter
how small.
5. Build a friendly and
understanding relationship with each girl.
Accept her as she is, feelings and all, so she learns to trust you and
your guidance.
6. Speak in quiet, pleasant
tones. Talk directly to girls, not from
across the room or play area. Be sure
that the girl understands you. Keep her
attention when you speak.
7. Phrase directions positively
rather than negatively, for example:
"Put your cup in the trashcan" rather than "Don't leave
your cup on the table." Praise the
type of behavior you wish to encourage rather than only rebuking negative
behavior.
8. Leaders should discipline each
others' daughters. You are the Girl
Scout Leader at the meeting, not "Mom". Leaders should treat their daughters the same
as the other girls. For example, your
daughter should not have to clean up after the others have left - clean up is a
shared responsibility among girls.
9. Parent helpers should be
encouraged to work with all the girls, not just their own daughter. Have them help at a table of multiple girls,
or at a station with girls rotating through.
10. Limits should be clearly
defined and consistently maintained. Girls want clear rules, and should be
encouraged to help make them.
11. Make full use of the
"buddy system" (pairing girls up so they can watch out for each
other.) Rotate buddies so that everyone
gets a chance to know everyone else and avoid cliques.
12. Involve each girl's family as
much as possible. Send notes home, spend
time speaking to family members at drop off or pick up time, seek out those you
don't often get a chance to speak with.
Find something positive and complimentary to say about everyone's
daughter, regardless of her challenges.
