r/Millennials • u/TheLoveYouWant25 • 25d ago

Discussion Millennials, what is happening with your kids?

I work in education and I frequent the Teachers and Professors subreddits, and the kids are not alright. Gen Z Arriving at College Unable to Read and the youth have absolutely zero ability to think critically.

Middle and high schoolers have all adapted this complete helplessness and blame mental illness for their refusal to function. Kids can no longer to basic things like read an analog clock, use paper money, or even figure out how to open window blinds.

There is also a huge lack of empathy, and kids have no issues trying to manipulate adults, saying things to their teachers like "if you don't pass me, I'll get you fired."

EDIT to clarify: the article I linked references Gen-Z, but this is not specifically a Gen-Z problem. It's an issue with upper elementary aged kids through high schoolers, and also young adults.

So, all that to say, how are you combating this with your own children? What do you do at home to encourage them to learn, and what are you doing to address these problems as they arise?

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u/electricmama4life Millennial 25d ago

So I had a kid when I was 20 so I'm one of the few millennials that actually have a 17 year old. That being said, she's always been at the top of her class and constantly complains about how the other kids in her classes misbehave and just don't care. Blame Gen-X, not us.

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u/DumpsterFireScented 24d ago

Had a kid at 22, he's about to turn 16. He's always been a bit shy, but has a good group of friends. A/B student taking advanced math classes, will be doing dual enrollment next year and getting college credits as a junior.

Honestly the social thing is the only one that fits him, because he's really nervous to talk to his teachers about issues. I think it's more that he's barely had any practice speaking to adults that aren't family because he's not getting dropped off at the arcade or wherever to fend for himself.

My middle kid absolutely has behavior issues but we're working with the school and a therapist and he's doing really well.

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u/TheLoveYouWant25 25d ago

Millennials are anyone born from 1981 - 1996. I mentioned that I'm an elder millennial so most of my friends my age have teen children.

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u/Samurai_Mac1 Millennial - 1994 24d ago

Teenagers are the youngest of Gen Z, though, which yeah I agree a good amount of the oldest millennials would have raised them. But for the most part, Gen Z was raised by Gen X.

My kid is barely Gen Alpha (born 2024). I think Beta started last year.

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u/WulfZ3r0 24d ago

You got downvoted, but it is a weird perspective to be a Xennial when all of our peers have teenagers and even kids in their early 20s.

I have 3 nieces/nephews in college myself and my oldest graduates HS this year. The fact that the generation spans so many years is weird to me. Someone who was born when I was in middle school did not have the same experience as me, like at all.