Originally Posted by
Propworn
The one biggest obstacle with kids I have found happens to be that they have to rely on a parent/adult to get them or their equipment to the field/flying site. Then we have had some parents think we are a baby sitting service which we make clear we are not. Due to liability and the possibility of injury and discipline the parent/adult must remain with the child.
I have just this past year arranged a free membership for two brothers (one confined to a wheelchair) in both the club and the national organization. I made available a PT 40 converted to electric as their trainer. I phoned every week trying to get together Wednesday or Sunday but the mother always has an excuse or something else that needed doing. We even fly indoor in the winter on Sunday and she could never make it.
The longest lasting successes have been when I can convince the parent/adult to join and have the child join as a family member (ours join for free under 18 yrs old) and teach both to fly.
I never had such a problem when I was running my flight school and the hobby shop. The parents and kids always showed up and if someone was late, on occasion it was me.
I insisted that the parent fly so that his or her kid would have someone to fly with, also the parent would learn as much as the kids about the hobby. I had a least one mother who really got into the hobby, building and became an officer and instructor in a club. She turned out to be an excellent builder and flier. Several father and son duos would be at the field on a regular basis.