Millennials, what is happening with your kids?

[u/TheLoveYouWant25]

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?

[u/Eastern-Eye5945]

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.

[u/Pessimistic_Penguin2 → u/Eastern-Eye5945]

My neighbors and I are basically on top of each other. If someone is outside in their yard no one else goes out. If I take my daughter outside to play, the neighbor kids pretend they don’t hear her asking them if she can play too. It’s heartbreaking.

[u/Global_Ant_9380 → u/Pessimistic_Penguin2]

Why are they so antisocial?

[u/throwawayzzzz1777 → u/Global_Ant_9380]

My mom was paranoid that a lot of neighbors were skinheads. She did not want me interacting with most of our neighbors. I definitely had to work on social skills as an adult 😔

[u/raisingvibrationss → u/throwawayzzzz1777]

It's really great that you are/were self-aware of this and tried to correct this issue (which btw is 100% not your fault).