Hip Pocket Activities

By Marilyn L. Mathews

Girls learn by doing a variety of activities in Girl Scouting, but it is the fun that keeps them coming back. Games can brighten any meeting or event. Just keep them in your hip pocket ready to use at a moment's notice. The just-released Let's Play! Games for Girls Ages 5-11 is a great resource for categories of games ranging from mix and mingle to quiet games.

When To Play

Your can play games at any time. Be prepared! Teach the girls a few games as "raggedy start-ups" for your meetings. These can become tried-and-true favorites. Keep a few new games to spark girls' interests or raise their energy levels. Be prepared to play quiet games while waiting for transportation to arrive or the next event to begin. Games can be a great way to teach a skill or learn new information. And of course, games come in very handy when plans are suddenly washed out by weather.

How to Select Games

It's fun to sample lots of games.some will work very well with the girls and others may not interest them. But keep trying. When selecting games, ask yourself:

• Why are we doing this game now? What is its purpose?
• Is this game suited to the girls' ages or developmental levels?
• Is there enough room to play this game safely? Set boundaries when playing games out-of-doors.
• Is everyone familiar with a recognized stop signal?
• Do we need equipment?

By Girls, For Girls

Games are one way to ease girls 5-11 into the 'by girls, for girls' concept-encouraging them to take an active role in what they do in Girl Scouting. To promote this approach, suggest that girls vote on the games they want to play, once they have learned several. Give younger girls a choice between two games. Older girls can create a games jar or box that includes slips of paper with the names of games to select.

Encourage the girls to take turns leading games. This is a good way to help them develop leadership skills in a safe environment. Older girls can learn new games or try variations of old games to teach to the troop or group.

Let's Play! A Service Project

Service is a basic part of Girl Scouting. Girls in grades five and up can use their games experience to provide service to other Girl Scout members and the community. Once girls are comfortable leading and teaching games in their troop or group, they can visit younger troops or groups to lead games sessions at day camp or service unit events.

Another way for girls to serve the community is by offering to teach games at day care facilities, community centers, and schools. They could also create a games training for adult volunteers.

Playing games is part of the Girl Scout tradition. So let the fun begin.

To order Let's Play! Games for Girls Ages 5-11, visit the Girl Scout online shop (see New Publications banner on left) or call National Equipment Service (NES) at (800) 221-6707.