Parenting the Gen Z
Two important and life changing occurrences: Pandemic and the advent of AI is the exact chronology that changed the graph of how our children understand and grasp things in life. As parents of the Gen Z kids, we have to adhere to many differences in terms of our parenting styles and the time we're living in. Let’s discuss what changes we are beginning to experience in new age children.
The pandemic introduced the world to online procurement. May it be vegetables and fruits to clothes and accessories. Daily needs were delivered home and exchange of money happened through digital modes. Pre-pandemic children were tagged along with adults to a market place, a mall or a sidewalk to pick up essentials at home. Unconsciously they heard transactions which mentioned numbers, they travelled in lifts where they would check numbers, cars with number plates and the list went on. All this disappeared. They either saw these numbers on mobile phones or calendars (those have dwindled in numbers too) which weren't enough exposure to change it to long time learning.
All of this has got to do with parenting the Alpha generation. This is merely an example to analyse what is their exposure, what is helping this generation understand the world better, what is their lens, what does their horizon look like.
Limiting the screen time
It looks like modern children are having less human interaction and more gadgets. They are often exposed to information that they do not have the experience to process but have the vocabulary to state. Unfortunately, parents who have less time and experiences together with their children have more materials/gadgets to share.
None or too much discipline
Connection to the roots
The truth hurts but this is it. Parenting rules have never changed. They won't ever. Meanwhile, some parents find it difficult to understand this generation. The first rule of parenting is family values, routines and respect. These need to be non-negotiable agreements. The values of each family are different but they need to be respected and not flouted because another family does not follow them. Family norms are the first non-negotiable.
Draw boundaries of safety
As a child we were never let in on adult conversations till we turned 16, the same should be applicable today, children should not be exposed to any media that a parent isn't certain about. We all work according to schedules, from day one letting a child aimlessly engage with any screen for a long period of time isn't permissible. Also, in the list of rules, parents must add the condition of not bartering them for favourable outcomes. Teach children to accept failures and instil a spirit of wanting to be better when not good enough.
What should we learn from older generations?
In years bygone external factors did not overpower or influence parental choices as they do today. The balance is always difficult to maintain and more than any time in history this demands adults to play mature parenting roles and not succumb to the changes of the world. The primary fabric of parenting is still woven with the threads of love, respect and communication, This is what keeps a family together and happy.
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