What lessons do girls learn from selling Girl Scout cookies....when the parent does the selling?

[cat1116]

Originally Posted by Rocco Barbosa

Selling cookies would offer great lessons in business, work ethic and responsibility.


What lessons are taught/learned when the parent takes the sign-up form to work and does the selling?

Undoubtedly the kid can't go into work with their parents every day of the work week. Even still, most work sites don't allow for employees to go asking each co-worker if they want to buy cookies for the G.S.
Pretty much they just put up something at their desk and/or get word out by mouth that so and so is selling GS cookies, if interested - contact name and number and where they sit in the office is given out.


The other times, I'd like to think that the kid (newbie) would go either around neighborhood (if allowed) or set-up stand near business (with explicit permission by business to do so, of course) and watch one or two transactions and then have the kid try it. The following year, if the kid is still in Scouts, then they can do more of it with less help from their parents. That's how I see it anyways.


I was a GS many, many moons ago and did go from door to door, most often by myself or with another GS. My Mother for some of those years was our GS leader. She didn't do the work for me, [except for the driving and maybe helping put boxes in car], I did most of the canvassing. Back then, we didn't set up at businesses. Don't know if there was a rule against it. Maybe some did, I just don't recall now. My Dad may have asked some of his friends and co-workers and then we also asked family members.

[NewbieHere]

Originally Posted by oregonwoodsmoke

My opinion: youth groups need to find another way to fund. It is beyond dangerous for a child to go door to door selling. Personally, I wouldn't allow my child to do it.

Every year, a couple of parents will sit with their kids outside a grocery store and the kids make the sales pitch. But mostly, the parents go and take orders at work. It's very annoying for the employees and it teaches nothing to the kids. It wouldn't be awful if it happened once a year, but it is every week, or multiple times a week. Cookies, band candy, money for trips, sponsered walks, it never ends.

OK, I confess, I sometimes get my car washed at the football cheerleaders or the 4-H car wash. That is the kids themselves working for their club money.

I agree with your post. I felt it was unsafe for my kid to go door to door. So I bought 50 boxes of Girl Scout cookies. It was awful, we had to stuff our faces with mint chocolate chip or whatever it's called. The whole family got fat.

[lae60]

Originally Posted by NewbieHere

I agree with your post. I felt it was unsafe for my kid to go door to door. So I bought 50 boxes of Girl Scout cookies. It was awful, we had to stuff our faces with mint chocolate chip or whatever it's called. The whole family got fat.

One year we got hit with snow and rain during the door to door sales, so I ended up buying about 25 or so boxes of cookies. BUT unlike your situation we had no problem getting rid of those cookies. Sometime during the time I was at work or everyone was asleep some nomes or elves or fairies, we are not sure what, came into the house ate a box or two of cookies, placed all the empty boxes and wrappers in the outside trash and left. It happened over and over until there were no cookies to be found! But I know it was not anyone who lived in the house as all the trash was put in the trash can, not left on the counter or table or couch!

[Big-Bucks]

Originally Posted by MLSFan

no, they learn that old men are willing to give young girls money if they act cute.

Ahhhh! I stand corrected!