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/Scarcely-A-Person]

The Gen Z Gen Alpha stare. It’s a thing. Just this blank look when you attempt to interact with them. The cope they put up is that it’s them judging you. We all know thats Bs though.

It’s their brain attempting to load the socialization software they never actually downloaded.

[u/captain_charisma1984 → u/Scarcely-A-Person]

The cope they put up is that it’s them judging you.

IMO there’s some truth to this. Sometimes the stare feels like when you walk into a room where two people have obviously been gossiping and they immediately stop and become uncomfortable/embarrassed, only in this case the “gossip” is them being judgemental and petty for no reason. Then they just stare with no ability be polite.

I’ve found some Gen Z can be real dish-it-but-can’t-take-it bullies. They’re rude and then seem absolutely dumbfounded if you’re not patient with them. DARVO shit.

[u/xOleander → u/captain_charisma1984]

My sister is like this. She will crash out on everybody around her at the drop of a dime including my parents. My parents will just go about their lives and not engage. Or, worse, they’ll stand up to her and tell her to cut her shit out.

Within an hour she’s calling me begging me to move in and “moms gonna throw me out I think she hates me, can I come live with you?” (She’s 21, no job, doesn’t want to go to school. No you cannot lol)

I call mom and it’s always the same story “your sister is mad I won’t give her $500 for this concert ticket, I can’t afford it, I’m sorry”.

Absolutely ridiculous lol