How to Earn the Girl Scout Junior Independence Badge (Get Moving!)

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Updated April 2023

Part of our job as Girl Scout leaders (and mothers as well) is to give our children wings so they can fly. As children get older, we want them to become more independent. While it isn’t easy to let go, and you may shed a few tears, it is the way it needs to be. When I teach my children life skills, it is because I want to be able to do it for themselves. We are not doing our children any favors by doing everything for them.

The Junior Girl Scout Independence badge will help introduce girls to skills that their parents may be too busy to teach.

Image created by the author on Canva

Step 1 Get Transportation Smart

When I started to drive at age 16, my father taught me what fluids to replace under the hood, how to change a tire, how to fill the car with gas, and then he bought me a AAA membership. While I can still check and fill all of my car's fluids, I do call AAA if my car needs a tire change or a tow.

Photo from Pixabay

Take your girls to the parking lot and pop open the hood of your car. Show them your skills! If you are not comfortable with this, find someone who knows more than you do to share his or her knowledge.

Step 2 Make Your Clothes Look Great

Most girls this age love fashion…but clothes do not take care of themselves! I have known children in elementary school who have been responsible for doing their own laundry, so teaching this to the girls in your troop is not a stretch.

Another thing you can do for this step is to teach girls simple sewing skills. 

Materials

Fabric scraps cut into 8 x 8 squares

Pins

Needles

Thread

Buttons

Step 1-Stitching Practice

This is an important skill for girls to learn.

Photo from Pixabay

Have the girls pin down one side of the scrap and sew a straight stitch across. On another side, have them do a whip stitch. In the center, have them sew on a button.

Here is a great printable for girls who need a visual on how to sew a button.

Step 3 Break a Bad Habit

There are lots of bad habits that people have…ask the girls to name a few. Then tell them that they are going to try to break one and report back to you, and that you are giving them a chart to help them see their progress. Depending on how often you meet, it may be one week or two before you hear back. You may want to send the parents and email about this so they know about the chart going home with their daughters.

Step 4 Help Around the House

Doing chores is not on anyone’s Top Ten list of things to do, but again, it is part of growing up. Instead of your co-leader and you cleaning up the meeting room, have the girls do it instead. Have them break up the chores and put themselves in groups. Put on music and see how quickly they can get the job done.

Photo from Pixabay and used by the author in Canva

Step 5 Show Off Your Independence

One way my troop has been independent is when we go out for a meal or treat, they sit by themselves at their own table (with adults nearby) and order their food. It makes them feel more grown up, but they also do not have to pay the bill! You can do this with your girls or find some other way for them to demonstrate their independence while with the troop.