I’m a big fan of Disney. Living just a few hours from Disney World, I am there on a regular basis.  Last week, I was there with my wife. She loves to collect Disney figurines, so I try to get her one every time we are there. Jiminy Cricket was the latest addition to her collection, and we were in line to pay for him.

At the end of the transaction, the store clerk asked if we wanted any stickers. I told her our kids are too old for stickers but she said, “Maybe you can give them to another kid who’ll like them,” and proceeded to load us down with what you see pictured below.

Now that may have seemed like a small gesture, but it made a big impact on me. I walked away feeling valued, cared for, and treated special. It is amazing what a small thing like a sticker can do. When you go out of your way to help someone it resonates loudly…no matter how small of an act it may seem to be.

I give out stickers every weekend at our church. I walk around with a pocket full of them and look for children that I can help feel loved and valued. Here are a few tips on using the “Sticker Factor.”

• You can get stickers at a great price atwww.orientaltrading.com.
• Check in and check out are great times to connect with kids through stickers.
• Look for kids who are having a bad day, not smiling, are nervous, etc. Those are the kids you can really make an impact on with stickers.
• Talk to new families and kids while they are registering and give them stickers.
• Ask the parent’s permission before you approach the child.
• Let the kids pick out which sticker they want.
• Let the kids or their parents place the sticker on.
• Say words of affirmation and encouragement to the child as you are connecting with him/her.
• Have fun…laugh…smile…crack a joke.

Do you have the Sticker Factor? If not, try it out. It’s a small gesture that reaps big rewards. Take a cue from Disney World and try it. You’ll be amazed at the impact!