The Millennials (ages 27-to-42) are the parents of the children in your ministry. Here are some important findings that you need to know about them.
There are approximately 77 million Millennials (born 1981 to 1996) in America, which is 24% of the population.
90% of 34-year-old Millennials live in their own home and three out of five have children.
What about marriage? Only 21% have gotten married. Contrast this with the Baby Boomers. 42% of Boomers were married at the same age. Only 21% of Millennial parents are married by the age of 36.
Millennial parents are very diverse. They are more ethnically and racially diverse than any previous generation. 44% are non-white including 19% Hispanic, 14% African American and 5% Asian.
They have the potential to be great parents. You may have heard negative things about Millennials. Some say they are shallow, entitled and try to be "hip."
Research shows that Millennial parents are more willing to invest in their children than any generation before them.
They will invest in what matters to them. They are willing to pay the price for child-friendly products that are high-quality. Organic baby food is an example. In 2013, US parents spent $613 million dollars on organic baby food. In 2017, that had increased to $783 million dollars.
Millennial parents are picky when it comes to purchasing items for their children. They want to know how things are made, where they come from and who made them. They expect product information to be easy to find.
They are also quick to provide feedback when products are sub-par or don't fulfill their expectations.
What about technology and Millennial parents? For starters, they grew up with cable TV, the internet and cell phones. They use technology for shopping, connecting with family and friends and exploring their interests. They also consume information through technology. Yes. They are watching TV, but the content on the screen comes from connected devices such as a DVR, Netflix, Apple TV and the host of other apps that play through their TV.
Traditional values are important to them. They put their family and children at the center of everything.
So how does this impact your ministry?
Here are some key questions to think about and talk through with your key leaders and parents as you seek to connect with and reach Millennial parents.
How can we connect with and influence Millennial parents?
Is our community diverse? Is our ministry diverse? How can we be more intentional about reflecting the diversity of our community?
How can we help parents see the importance of spiritually investing in their children?
Do we have a pipeline that Millennial parents can use to provide feedback?
How can we help Millennial parents when it comes to technology and their children?
What values do Millennial parents want to see in their children? How can we help with this?
Since Millennial parents are picky when they are making an investment in their child, how can we provide a ministry of excellence that they will be drawn to?
What can we do to help parents be proactive in protecting their children from online danger?