Photo: Shutterstock British airline easyJet and its holiday company easyJet holidays are launching a new initiative designed to give parents peace of mind during their vacation: Teddy Trackers, small "tracking trackers" that will be attached to children's favorite dolls and toys.
The trackers, based on Life360’s Tile technology, will allow families to track the location of their toys via a dedicated app. The service will be offered free of charge to families flying with easyJet or booking holidays through easyJet holidays, at selected UK airports throughout the summer.
The move comes amid data suggesting that losing a beloved toy is a significant concern for many parents. A study commissioned by the companies found that 87% of parents worry about losing their child's favorite toy while traveling, while 97% said they would feel more at ease if they could keep track of items important to their children.
According to the study, four out of five parents say that their child's favorite toy travels with them on almost every family vacation.
easyJet. Photo: William Barton / Shutterstock.comIt also shows that 65% of parents reported that their child had previously lost a favorite doll or other item while on vacation. Although some parents try to bring a replacement toy, many children quickly recognize the replacement and 81% of parents said their children noticed that it was a "replacement."
The loss of the toy may also have consequences for the vacation experience: almost a third of families reported that the child's sleep became more difficult after the loss, with the average time spent coping with parting with the toy being about six weeks.
The companies note that airline and hotel staff also often help find lost toys. Now easyJet hopes that the new technology will allow families to enjoy a more relaxed vacation - even when their beloved teddy bear is on the go.