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How young is too young?
How young is too young?
Every club is different. It's true that parent involvement is essential if "littles" are to be involved, and not every club is able to handle ages 4-6. But... clubs have also seen impressive growth when families find some level of activity and recognition are available for younger siblings and minds eager for discovery.
Just in case your club is looking for fun activities and a bit of rock education tailored for kids ages 4-6, check out the items below. Capturing their interest at this age may mean making a rockhound for life!
Fun With Rocks! - Early Education Series for ages 4-6
This folder contains Student and Teacher materials for seven lessons. FRA member Leaders are encouraged to use whatever pages in the pdfs may be useful for your own group, and rearrange activities in any way you wish. Print all you need for your group but please understand this material may NOT be sold.
Fun With Rocks and Collecting Rocks
Volcano Country!
River Country!
Mountain Country!
Magnificent Minerals
Crystals, Gems and Geodes
Our Changing Earth
Sample Certificates for our youngest Juniors
I Love Rocks Certificate for 4-yr-olds
I Love Rocks Certificate with Photos
Use these ideas to launch your own system. 😀Already have something working? Great! Submit Word doc and photo to youth@amfed.org.
But aren't these kids too young for the FRA Badge Program?
Again, every club has their own way of handling this. If your club does the Badge Program, you will decide who can get the official badges. Most clubs prefer that Juniors are old enough to read and write. Some stick with age 7 as a minimum, some with first grade level, etc.
So what about the kindergartners? Some clubs supply "homemade" badge substitutes for younger Juniors until they reach the age requirement set by their club. That way they are still recognized, but there is no pressure to achieve at the same level as older kids.
Here are some examples in pdf to spark your own ideas. Word docx Templates can be available on request.
Badge Keeper Cert for Pebble Pups
Little Helper Volunteer award? Do your own, and share it here! Submit Word doc and photo to youth@amfed.org.
About the image on this page...
About the image on this page...
She may only be four years old, but she spotted something that fascinated her on that Lake Michigan beach! And so it goes... 2 years later she is learning about volcanos with the Earth Processes badge! Those bright eyes will soon spot the difference between the granites and gneisses and rhyolites on that beach, and she, like us, will have found another piece of heaven on earth!
Image credit: Jamie Andino
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