Working With Parents

As a Girl Scout leader, you will be developing meaningful relationships with the girls in your troop.  Since you will need help from time to time, it is also wise to develop positive relationships with the parents and guardians in your troop. Here are some tips to start the year of right and to keep it running smoothly.

• Share the magic of the Girl Scout program. Discuss the Girl Scout Goals for Girls, Girl Scout Promise and Law. Let the parents know that while Girl Scouts is fun, it is much more than a social club.
• Get to know the parents. Give parents interest cards at the beginning of the year.  This card, in addition to containing emergency contact information, can gather information about professions, places of work, hobbies, talents, etc.  Later in the year, you will have an idea of who to call when you need help with a project or trip.
• Communicate often with the parents.  Send home updates and easy to read permission forms. Talk to parents as they pick up and drop off their girls.
• Be professional.  Do not gossip about the girls or other parents.  If you have an important issue to discuss, make sure that the girls are properly supervised and speak with the parent in private.

Parents are more likely to help when you ask them directly.  Also, make sure the task is specific and short-term.  People can easily get overwhelmed if you ask, “Will you be willing to help with the troop?”  Instead, state, “I need a parent to assist with our Mexican craft project.  Will you help us one hour a week for two weeks?”
Create and publish a phone tree.  Instead of you calling every parent in your troop, you can make only a few calls and start a chain of information.
 
How Parents Can Help

There are many ways that adults can help your troop.

• Adult Helper~ Attend troop meetings & actively participate to support the Safety-Wise girl/adult ratio.
• Telephone/ Transportation~ Call parents/ guardians or girls for reminders or changes in plans.  Help arrange transportation as needed.
• Troop Cookie Manager~ Attend cookie training, coordinate cookie sale, pick-up and distribute cookies, and maintain financial records (January- March).
• Fall Product Sale Manager~ Place troop fall product orders, coordinate payment and distribution of products (November).
• Annual Giving Chair~ Attend Annual Giving training, offer every parent/guardian in the troop the opportunity to donate, collect monies, and compile reports (January- May).

Parents can also:

Lend                    

• Use of their house
• Use of their car
• Use of special equipment or skills
• Share a hobby, interest, or skill…

•     Outdoors  & nature
•     Sports, dance, & fitness
•     Careers
•     Singing, music, & drama
•     Sewing & crafts
•     Games
•     Science & computers
•     There is no limit…

Provide

• Help with trips & activities
• Snacks and drinks
• Space for storage

Be      

• A First Aider for hikes & trips
• A certified camping adult
• A babysitter for leader’s children during meeting, trips, events.