RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

Over 64 million people visit Disney parks each year.  That's over 172,000 people a day!

With that many people on your property, you're going to have some kids get lost.  On an average day, 15 kids get lost in one of the parks each day.

It's vital to be proactive and have a plan in place when a child can't be located in your ministry.  Here's what Disney does when a child gets lost.

When a cast member (employee) finds a lost child:

• They will stay in that spot with the child for 10 minutes.
• The Cast Member will get as much information from the child as possible, such as his or her name and the names of parents.
• If the child isn’t found within ten minutes, the Cast Member will call a manager or coordinator.  Children who are under the age of 13 are taken to the Baby Care Center.  Children over 13 are taken to Guest Relations.

When a parent approaches a cast member (employee) about a lost child:

• The Cast Member will instruct the parent to wait with them and remain in the same spot.
• If there are multiple adults in the party, the other adult may roam the area to look for the child.
• The Cast Member will obtain information about the child, including his or her name, age, and description.
• If the child isn’t found within 10 minutes, the Cast Member will alert a manager or coordinator, who will check with Baby Care and Guest Relations for found children, and in turn alert other coordinators, managers, and security as time passes, to create an ever-widening net of people who are looking for the child.

What plan do you have in place when a child gets lost?  Share with us in the comment section below.

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."

I'm reading a new book called "Dream It! Do It!  My Half-Century Creating Disney's Magic Kingdom."

It's written by Marty Sklar.  Marty is a Disney legend and Imagineer.  I am picking up so many great ideas from this book about connecting with children and families and leadership.

Yesterday I shared the first 25.  Here's 25 more...

Be optimistic - if you are not positive, who else will be?

Courage and confidence are major cross streets on the road to success.

Make curiosity your search engine.

Learn to love your next assignment - be passionate about whatever you do.

Provide time to explore - but deadlines are great motivation and discipline.

Take time to teach - mentors are important.

Forget the politics - it's not an election.

Traditions are important - but change is the great dynamic.

Team and work are four-letter words - but together they spell "winner."

Remember, the last three letters of trend are E-N-D.

Speak up.  Great teammates raise issues before decisions are made.

Never be afraid to ask questions.  That's how we learn our parts - onstage and backstage.

Make your experience count.  That's why you're on the team.

Help the rookies succeed.  You were "new" once, too.

Understand your role - everyone has a job to do.

Never fear failure - winners sometimes fail, too!

But - know when to take a chance and always let your leaders know you're doing it.

Play by the rules.  If you disagree, work to change them after the game.

Share the joy of success - you didn't do it by yourself.

Support your teammates - at Disney, there's only one name on the door.

There are two ways to look at a blank sheet of paper.  It can be the most frightening thing in the world,  because you have to make the first mark on it.  Or it can be the greatest opportunity in the world, because you get to make the first mark - you can let your imagination fly in any direction, and create whole new worlds.

Never lose your faith in family entertainment.

When we go into a project , we believe in it all the way.  We have confidence in our ability to do it right.  And we work hard to do the very best job possible.

I go from one area of the studio to another and gather pollen and sort of stimulate everybody.  I guess that's my job. - Walt Disney

Don't let making a living prevent you from making a life.