Does your child love to sing, dance and act and have a particular knack for it? Do they watch Disney Channel or Disney XD all day and fantasize with being the next Selena Gomez or Bridgit Mendler? Well, here’s their chance to shine in the Disney spotlight!

Disney Channel and Disney XD just announced that they are hosting a Nationwide Talent Search for kids ages 10-17 who can act, sing and dance for upcoming Disney Channel and Disney XD series and movies. The search will begin in Southern California with casting directors for Disney Channel and Disney XD visiting elementary, middle and high schools, performing arts schools and academies, dance studios and after school programs. That means that your child doesn’t need to have previous experience, or a reel or casting book. They could just be discovered by doing what they do best and just being kids!

What’s really got me excited about this talent search is that Disney is looking to throw a wide net and make sure their on-air talent reflects the reality of the diversity of our kids’ generation.

“Diversity is the guidepost for Disney Channel programming and our talent search is another extension of our efforts to try and meet with actors who might not normally have the chance to be seen by a professional casting director,” Judy Taylor, senior vice president of Casting and Talent Relations for Disney Channels Worldwide shared with me via email. “We continue to experiment with new and innovative ways to make the auditioning process more accessible to everyone. During the talent search we are looking for actors for a variety of Disney Channel and Disney XD series and movies.”

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Hispanic Heritage Month is all abuzz with celebrations happening all over the country to recognize the richness of the Latino cultural heritage in the United States. From Sep. 15 through October 15 we have so many opportunities to immerse our children in the beauty of one of their cultures and teach others about it as well.

Disney Junior is joining the celebration with four beautiful :30 second spots featuring Latino children and parents talking about elements of their heritage that they embrace.

The four spots feature:

• A game of lotería
• A piñata party
• Children singing De Colores
• A boy learning to make a banana helado from Colombia

And, guess what? My girl, Camila and I, were invited to be featured in one of the spots! Since we love to play lotería, and it’s a perfect game to practice words in Spanish, that’s the spot we’re on!

Want to take a sneak peak before it starts airing tomorrow (Thursday)? Then press play on the video below!

My girl and I had so much fun shooting these together and now we even have a beautiful keepsake to treasure as much as we do our game of lotería. Camila’s reaction when I showed her the spot was hilarious because she saw the entire thing quietly and with a critical look on her face. When the spot was over, I asked her in Spanish, “Did you love it?” She said, “I did, but that’s not how it is, they got it wrong because I told everyone that after you win, you get a sticker.” Yes, she did say that many times to camera, so I had to give her a quick lesson in how TV is made. Not sure she totally got it, but at least now she’s not critical when she watches the spot! Now, she can’t wait for all her amigos y amigas to see it as well!

Catch all the fours spots airing during Hispanic Heritage Month on the Disney Junior programming block on Disney Channel and on the 24-hour Disney Junior channel.

And remember, your child can enjoy all their favorite Disney Junior shows, like Doc McStuffins and Jake and the Neverland Pirates, in Spanish! How? Just find the SAP option on your cable/satellite provider’s remote and select the Spanish option.

Can’t thank Disney Junior and Disney Channel enough for providing the Spanish-language option and for creating these Hispanic Heritage spots to celebrate our culture. ¡Gracias!