Participating in cookie activities allow girls to create their own experiences, reflect on them, and apply what they learn to new challenges. This learning cycle builds courage to try new things and gives girls the desire to continue on the journey to Discover, Lead and Take Action In the Girl Scout Leadership Program.

As a Girl Scout, girls are already well on their way to becoming highly effective leaders! They develop the self-confidence, vision, wisdom, motivational impact and delivery skills that the most effective leaders use every day.

Cookie time provides girls with a safe opportunity to express themselves without fear of being judged. They are encouraged to build on their strengths and try new things in a supportive all-girl environment. Through cookie activities girls are given lots of chances to succeed yet are challenged to stretch themselves in new ways.

Developing and practicing good communication skills helps develop your child's ability to communicate well. Cookie activities provide wonderful opportunities for girls to interact with friends, neighbors, consumers and their Girl Scout adults, while they practice communicating their sales techniques, thoughts, feelings and opinions clearly.

Goal setting helps girls decide what is important for them to achieve in their life. They learn to avoid distractions, stay motivated, build self-confidence while greatly improving their opportunities for success.

As girls get older, they face increasingly complex and difficult challenges. Some of these may involve the coordination of different people and the completion of many tasks in limited amount of time. Cookie time is a great way to practice project management skills.

Financial know-how is at the heart of true independence and self-reliance. The basic skills and financial insight that girls gain through practice and experience-like cookie sales-stay with them for a lifetime. Learning how to manage money wisely is one of the most important life skills girls can master. Cookie activities can help girls learn how to budget, manage cash flow and even pay bills on time!

The best way to get things done is often to work together to achieve more. Girls gain lots of practice working together with other girls on their team toward a variety of goals, like cookie activities. All the while, they are improving problem solving abilities, communication and conflict resolution skills.

Networking is one of the most successful methods for gaining a desired position, whether it's a slot on the school newspaper or student government organization today, or a job later in life. Through cookie activities girls learn to develop contacts - friends, family, neighbors, college alumni, people in associations - a wide variety of people who might be able to help them with their future roles in life