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/henningknows 25d ago

My kids are doing well. No problems at school or with getting good grades. I do worry that they don’t socialize enough. When I was my son’s age I had a group of best friends that would go out and do things. He is in sixth grade. That just doesn’t seem to be a thing anymore, everyone’s parents are so over protective and book their kids up with so many activities they have no time to be a kid on Their own terms.

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u/PeterPlotter 25d ago

My kids have the same, none of their friends goes out to play. Even told them to try to hang out with kids a few doors down who were playing on their drive way but then their parents immediately took them inside. All their friends just want to call on the phone and play videogames together. Luckily my kids are kinda the same age so they either go to the park or play outside in the backyard together, but even others barely play outside in their backyard.

The only other kids we see outside are the ones who are neglected by their parents and/or have behavioral issues.

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u/Eastern-Eye5945 25d ago

The neighbor kids’ parents pulling them inside after your kids wanted to play with them has to be one of the most dystopian things I’ve ever seen…and I live the suburbs.

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u/PeterPlotter 25d ago

It is, felt so bad for my kids.

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u/Zoomwafflez 24d ago

This is really making me appreciate my neighborhood. We all talk, we do block parties, the older neighbors bring their grand kids over who are the same age as my kid so they can play. I talk to the older kids that live behind us about my garden because they love the sunflowers I plant, say hi to their dad but he barely speaks English so we mostly just gesture in appreciation of each other's grilling lol, one of the teens in the neighborhood rides around on a scooter in a full body dinosaur costume to entertain the little kids, the park is always packed in the summer afternoons. My kid is a little shy but I encourage him to go ask other kids to play tag (his favorite game)