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Girls Entering Kindergarten

You want the best for your girl, and so do we. Whether she is just getting ready to enter kindergarten or she’s already there, Girl Scouts Daisies can expand her world outside of school.

As a Girl Scout Daisy in kindergarten and first grade, she’ll unleash her imagination to try a wide variety of new and exciting things. She’ll make friends, grow in confidence, and build skills that will help her in school and beyond.

Ready, Set, Kindergarten Virtual Series

Ready, Set, Kindergarten is a fun virtual series designed to boost Pre-K girls’ social skills and self-confidence while she learns how to focus and thrive in her new Kindergarten classroom. This series allows her to connect with the same friends each week, as well as Girl Scouts staff and volunteers who lead her through sessions around language & literacy, cognition, approaches to learning, and social and emotional learning.

Check back for future offerings of the Ready, Set, Kindergarten virtual series!

Raising Awesome Girls

Raising girls to be happy, healthy, and successful is simpler than ever with help from Girl Scouts. As the largest leadership development organization for girls in the United States, we're proud to be a thought leader for all parents raising up the next generation of girls and young women. From knowing how much to help with her homework to navigating sensitive issues in the news with your family, we've got everything you need to raise girls with confidence. 

How to Get Her Ready for Kindergarten

Pencils, backpacks, and school buses. New friends, new teachers and a brand new schedule to learn. Starting school brings a lot of change for both you and your girl. But there are a few simple things you can do to help her walk through doors that first day not only ready to learn—but to go in with a big smile and a sense of confidence.

Here are five ways to prepare her for a happy, safe, and fun start to her first school year.

1. Dress her for success

Help her have a smooth first day by making sure she can move freely in her outfit. Kindergarten is a place to play, run, climb, and learn, so the fancy dress you bought last week might be best left at home. Make sure she can put on and take off her own shoes and coat. Avoid putting her in anything with complicated closures (multiple zippers, toggles, or buttons can be tricky for little ones) and opt for leggings over tights, as tights can get snagged on the playground or slip down and cause discomfort through the day.

2. Be a tourist

Many schools set aside a day to let incoming kindergartners and parents tour the classroom, so take advantage of the opportunity or ask to schedule a special visit. Also make sure to show your child the hallways, the bathroom, and other important places like the playground and library, too.

3. Get her talking

Take turns telling a story with your girl. Even if she’s got a lot of friends in your neighborhood or is known as being talkative within the family, she still may need a little boost to help her communicate with others in a new setting. Tell a piece of the story as your child listens, then ask her to pick up where you left off. It will help develop the listening and communication skills that can give her a smooth transition into kindergarten. Even simply reading books to her and asking her questions about them (Would she have made the same choices? How would she feel if she were the main character?) can help. Try stories and books about kindergarten as the first day gets closer.

4. Do a practice run

A few days before school starts, set the alarm for the new wake up time, visit the bus stop, or walk the route to school. If you have neighbors who will be attending the same school, it might be a great time to find your bus buddy—or a friendly face to join her on the first ever walk to school.

5. Celebrate her friendship skills

Reinforce the qualities that will help her make new friends, and let her know when you see those positive behaviors in action. Liked the way she shared with a younger sibling or neighborhood playmate? Tell her! Did she notice someone was sad and try to cheer her up? Let her know what a nice thing she did. It can also be helpful to help her practice introducing herself to new people. 

To Learn More

If you would like to learn more and even sample what it's like to be a Girl Scout, there are various opportunities available to you.

Daisy Launch

The Daisy Launch series allows your girl to experience Girl Scouts through virtual troop meetings and allows you to ask questions and discover a fun, family-oriented community where each and every girl has endless opportunities to make friends, explore her interests, be herself, and make her world a better place! The series is free and she'll do fun activities along the way.

Girl Scouting at Home

Various virtual programs, interactive activities, and other online resources are available through Girl Scouts of Utah. For most virtual programs, girls do not have to be a Girl Scout to participate. Full program descriptions can be found on the Girl Scouting at Home page.

In addition to GSU's virtual programs, girls have access to the wide variety of programming offered by GSUSA. The national Girl Scouts at Home page features options for virtual camp, activities, national service projects, and virtual events. These resources are also sorted by grade level so you can quickly find activities for Daisies.

Upcoming GSU Programs:

  • Dinosaur or Fairy Terrarium with Discovery Gateway
    • August 15 @ 10:00 a.m.    
    • A Discovery Gateway Education Team Member will discuss ecosystems and show students how to assemble and care for a terrarium. The kit includes terrarium supplies, including a plant. Meets requirements 4 and 5 for the Gardener badge.
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Ready to become a Girl Scout? Join today! If you have questions, email info@gsutah.org or call (801) 265-8472. Financial assistance is available to those who qualify. 

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