Airlines are starting to provide special perks for kids on their flights. The purpose is to make the flight more enjoyable for kids, their parents and other people who want to fly in a calm and peaceful environment.
The "kid kits" airlines are giving out include things like socks, luggage tags, activities, puzzles, small story books, coloring books and crayons, an origami and more.
Why are airlines doing this?
Happy kids = Happy Parents. Why are airlines turning their attention to children? This quote summarizes it all.
If children are happy, then parents are happy, and they associate the airline with a positive flying experience and are more likely to choose it for future trips.
Some airlines are also offering kids' meals for children. Kids love kids' meals. Especially if it comes with a toy.
This is a great example of parents picking an airline based on the preference of their children. Which leads to the next point.
Kids are a big influence on their parents' choices. Many parents will now be making their flight choices based on what airlines offer their children.
Money spent on children's ministry comes back. Kids influence their parents spending. And when you spend money on children, it comes back and multiplies. One of the best places a ministry can invest money is in children's ministry. Parents, especially Millennial parents, spend a lot of money on their children.
I think this quote sums it up.
When you take a child by the hand, you take a parent by the heart.
Churches and ministries that want to grow should focus on reaching and ministering to children. From that will come an inroad to the heart of parents.
I have seen this happen time and time again. I remember when we put an indoor playground in our new children's building. Parents could hang out with their children before and after services. And as the children's pastor, I would hang out there to connect with parents before and after service.
Soon after we opened the park, I noticed a lady in the park. She was crying. I went over to check on her and make sure she was okay.
When I asked her if she was okay, she replied, "These are tears of joy. See that man and little girl. That's my husband and daughter. I have been asking him to come to church with us for over 7 years. He always said "no."
But this week, his 6-year-old daughter asked him to come to church with her so they could play together in the new indoor park. She kept asking and finally he said, "yes." And during the service today, I could sense God was working in his life. I believe he will soon step across the line of faith."
I have seen this happen over and over again when a church decides to make children's ministry a top priority.
If an airline can see this and implement this strategy, then surely we, as the church, can do the same. It's time the church started focusing on reaching children. From that, entire families will be reached.