Door Knob Details

10:44 AM  Unknown  

Attention to detail is the foundation for excellence. Excellence is simply a lot of little details done very well. Disney is known for doing things with excellence. Below is a video showing some of the door knobs at Disneyworld. A door knob may seem like something small. But not if you're committed to excellence. It's an opportunity to shine in the details.

Excellence isn't perfection. But it is the pursuit of perfection. As you watch this video, think about these questions...
  • Am I committed to doing details well...no matter how small they may seem?
  • If I find a typo in a newsletter that is getting ready to go out...will I throw away all the copies, fix it, and reprint them?
  • When I see a small piece of trash in the hallway, do I pick it up or walk past it?
  • When I promise someone I will do something for them, do I follow through...no matter how small the task?
  • When I see a piece of paint chipped off the wall...do I ignore it or get it touched up?
  • Are there typos in the text I put on screen?
  • Do I go into the weekends well prepared or with just enough to get by?



Posted by Dale Hudson
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Don't Get Distracted

10:37 AM  Unknown  

Great basketball players know how to block out distractions when they're at the free throw line and focus on the goal. Same thing applies to Children's Ministry. In this video, I share four things that will try to distract you and how to stay focused on the goal of impacting kids and families with the love of Christ.



Posted by Dale Hudson
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What To Do When Parents Show Up Late for Pick up

7:46 AM  Unknown  

We've all been there. The children's event or class ended an hour ago and you're still waiting on a parent to pick up their child. With each passing moment, you begin to feel more like a babysitter than a minister. Here's some do's and don'ts when you're stuck watching the clock.

Do's
  • Do put the child at ease. Many times the child will become anxious or worried. Keep things lighthearted. Laugh. Have fun while you're waiting.
  • Do use the time to invest in your friendship with the child.
  • Do give the child something they can do to pass the time. A game, a book, a coloring sheet, or even helping you clean up.
  • Do be compassionate instead of condescending when reminding the parent about the pick up time.
  • Do ask if there is anything you can do to be of assistance. If there are family issues going on, this may open the door to minister to them.
  • Do clearly communicate drop off and pick up times in writing. 
  • Do partner with adult ministries. Ask leaders of adult classes to encourage parents to pick up their children on time. If parents want to stay and fellowship, ask leaders to encourage them to go pick up their child and then come back to talk.
  • Do ask each parent where they will be when they drop their child off.
  • Do have parent's cell phone numbers on file so you can call them if needed.

Don'ts
  • Don't wait alone. Always have someone wait with you. Never be alone with the child.
  • Don't blame the child. It's not the child's fault.
  • Don't give the parent a mean look when they finally show up (even if you feel like it).
  • Don't talk to the parent about being late in front of the child. 
  • Don't jump to conclusions. Not every parent is using you as a free babysitter while they "fellowship" after class with their friends. There may be a legitimate reason why they are late.
  • Don't throw the rule book at the parent if it's the first time they have been late.

Posted by Dale Hudson
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