Where You Should Place The Oldest Kids in the Room











This is a picture of our Stuart Campus.  We currently meet in a high school while we are building a permanent facility.

At this campus, grades 1-5 meet together.  Notice where we place the 4-5th grade boys.  Front and center.

This is intentional.  Why?
  • Always target the oldest boy in the room when you teach and prepare programming.  Catch the 5th grade boy and you will engage all the kids.  Cool rolls down hill. 
  • Don't place older kids behind younger kids.  If older kids see younger kids in front of them, they will think "this is babyish."
  • Make the oldest kids the leaders.  This will bring engagement and ownership.  Get them on the praise team, let them be greeters, help take the offering, etc.
Still not convinced?  Here's a quote from the master at engaging kids...Walt Disney.

"We're not going to talk down to the kids.  Let's aim for the 12 year old.  The younger ones will watch, because they'll want to see what their older brothers and sisters are looking at."