For our first meeting, we’ll be working on the “Healthy Habits” Try-It. Try-Its are the Brownie equivalent of badges. The attention span and abilities of seven-year-olds being what they are, the girls don’t have to meet all the goals, they just have to give it the ol’ college try.
We’ll be having coloring and such for the girls to do as others arrive, then start the meeting with a Brownie circle. We’ll talk a little bit about germs, then we have a nifty activity planned. We’ll have lotion for the girls to rub on their hands, and then we’ll sprinkle their hands with glitter to represent germs. As they shake hands and touch each other, they’ll see the glitter go from person to person. Yes, we’re putting a sheet down and bringing a towel.
Then we’ll talk about hand-washing. We have a song to learn, and I’ve got little cards they can bring home, pictured at right. We’ll troop down the hall and wash our hands, then come back to the room.
Depending on how much time that sucks up, we’ve got a couple of other possible activities. One is a “mother may I” type game.
The children begin by standing against a wall. They can take a giant step forward each time we say something that’s ok to share. When we say something that’s not ok to share, they are to stand in place without moving forward and say, “No, no!” So like this:
“Share the playdoh.” (Children would move forward one giant step)
“Share your drinking cup.” (Children would stand still and say, “No, no!”)
“Share the library books.” (Children would move forward one giant step)
“Share your toothbrush.” (Children would stand still and say, “No, no!”)
Share your cookie/crayons/straw/dolls/tissue/spoon/whatever. By which point they should be to where we are.
If we’re still way off on time, we can also talk about feelings as part of health. Just in case we do, I’m going to put names of feelings on index cards. The girls could draw them, then act one out and the other girls could guess what it is. We could talk about a time when they might feel that way.
I’ve put out the call for another parent to volunteer to bring relatively healthy snacks, so hopefully someone’ll do that, which will suck up some more time and let the girls calm down some.
Then back to the meeting circle. We’re going to have a few other badge options for them to choose from for their next program. Then a friendship squeeze (cross arms, hold hands with the girl next to you, and send a squeeze around the room) and maybe a song, and away they go for another two weeks.
If we don’t get to do any or all of this, or if it all goes to hell, I’m okay with that. I’m not expecting the girls to march in lockstep with what I say. Also, I’m open to suggestion and comment on any of this!
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