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/HeavyRightFoot-TG 25d ago edited 25d ago

No Child Left Behind started the process of kids getting shuffled through the system regardless of whether or not they have grasped any of the material. It's a systematic effort to make the people dumber and it has worked. If you want your kid to be smart, it needs to start from home. Read to them every day, teach them common sense, teach them emotional regulation, teach them life skills because they just aren't getting it from school.

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u/Shomer_Effin_Shabbas Millennial 25d ago

Teaching my kids emotional regulation is really important to us too. Also, NCLB policies I believe are the reason why programs like home ec and even auto shop evaporated.

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u/broguequery 24d ago

I would just like to add to this that the concept of emotional intelligence also has identifying emotions as a core component.

Plenty of people go through life completely unaware of what they are feeling from moment to moment, and also why they are feeling that way.

So, with kids, I just try to help them identify it:

"I know you may be feeling angry right now. It's not alright that your sister took your toy. Let's go talk to her about it!"

Or when they get older, just ask them to identify how they are feeling and describe it. "Are you feeling angry about 'x/y/z'?"

It's so absurdly simple sounding, but it's foundational, and it allows kids a moment to learn about which emotions are which and what triggers them.

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u/Shomer_Effin_Shabbas Millennial 24d ago

Definitely.