Dora is Sticky

My daughter loves Dora the Explorer! Why? Because Dora is sticky. I love watching it with her because she doesn't stop doing something. She's standing up, repeating words, learning Spanish, turning in circles and sitting down.

This show reminds me of a GREAT book I read a few years ago, The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell. In the book he uses Blue's Clues and Sesame Street as a case study for the tipping point. His point was there was something about Blue's Clues that caused it to be more popular (the tipping point) than Sesame Street. Dora is similar to Blue's Clues.

One of things he pointed out is that Blue's Clues is stickier than Sesame Street. The stickiness factor is what I see when I watch Adah. The program gives Adah multiple ways to learn, to grab a hold of the message they are trying to communicate. The show is sticky! Adah is increasing her vocabulary, learning motions, talking to the T.V., finding things on the map, invited to join Dora on a journey...you name it! - Aside - another blog for another time - the concept of children learning that cartoons are a journey to be invited on and not a program to watch! Hmmm....

And it's true. Adah is only interested in Sesame Street at all if Elmo comes on. She loses interest because it doesn't have as many sticking points as Dora! Big Bird scares her!

The stickiness factor! Just this simple concept can improve leading a small group, large group teaching, making a presentation, a conversation you are have with an employer, or the way you parent. I think we need to be continually be thinking about the stickiness factor in all that we are doing! Especially when we are leading a small group or teaching. We can't just assume that a great introduction is going to give someone a reason to listen for 30 minutes. We need to be sticky all throughout our message or small group time. And what I love about this concept is that it is little changes that make the biggest difference. It's not making huge changes for a huge impact.

If we don't care about the stickiness factor now, you can bet we will when the class of 2024 (the potential graduating year for Adah) become adults because they are growing up in a sticky world! I am looking forward to making it a point to be continually evaluating how sticky I am in all the areas of my life and ministry.