Observe the Alpha generation. Succeeding Gen Z, who ends the alphabet, there are no letters to index succeeding generations, so a new era begins. Gen Z started in the 20th century and concluded their arrival in the dawning years of the 2nd Millenium. The Alpha generation is the first generation kept within the confines of the 21st century and the second Millenium. As a collective, they will have no waking memory of the 90s or early 2000s. Nor will they remember life without smartphones, social media, or instant shipping. They will remain cultivated by home life, influenced by youtube culture, and affected privately by a public crisis. Here’s what you need to know about raising the Alpha Generation.
The Formative Years of the Alpha Generation
The Pandemic marked the impressionable years of the Alpha generation. Raised with social distancing, cautious interactions, and home life as a guideline for the world outside alpha generation will originate from different individual perspectives. The cornerstone that marks the Alpha generation is the use of the tablet, particularly the iPad 10. Children in the alpha generation grow up with touchscreen devices; this means easy access to technology and the world around them. The development of apps is mainstream to them, allowing them simple solutions to solve everyday problems.
Highly Connected Kids
Kids in the Alpha generation are influenced partially by millennial parents, but their biggest influencers will be themselves. This highly connected generation is aware of the lives of children around them, even in a firewall-protected environment. While parents will lay the groundwork for guidance and wisdom, children will use highly connected apps such as kid-streamed networks and Roblox to understand their role in society. This generation is primarily self-directed toward their interests. However, despite self-directed learning, their dreams of a better tomorrow are more practical and widespread than the former generations.
Alpha Generation Education
With less traditional influence in their early years, the older generations will not be able to direct Alphas through culture. Establishments and government will not influence the Alpha generation as they did the former generations. Their connection to different individuals makes them aware of problems far from home, but their disconnection from traditional institutions will lessen society’s influence on them. Nowadays, parents have more options for educating their children. This deviation from public schooling is not the only factor in independent thinking. As children have more access to the world around them, textbook academics will be a scoring system rather than a life map. With an assortment of master classes, online colleges, and youtube videos, world experience will be readily available for their choosing.
Raising the Alpha Generation
In a time of uncertainty, survival is at the top of the Alpha Generation’s concerns. The decimation of the planet, population pandemics, and economic uncertainty mean that Alphas will need to develop solutions to improve the well-being of those around them while surviving and maintaining a safe environment. Parents who encourage and invest time into this generation will create confidence and reassure adults. Due to a relapse in success, Millenials and Baby boomers will have the ability to direct their children toward realistic and meaningful life paths. With Babyboomers becoming the most involved generation of grandparents, the Alpha generation will have access to real-life experience. Alphas need practical life advice; more importantly, they must adapt to an ever-changing environment. Goal-setting will be placed aside for more practical problem-solving innovations.
A Generation of Innovation
Young alphas have already expressed creative ways to help people solve the climate crisis, homelessness, and food supply. With real-life exposure and global awareness, young children are aware of the world around them. You can help your Gen Alpha child grow by:
- Encouraging them to pursue intellectual interests
- Confronting uncomfortable topics and fostering age-appropriate discussions about real-world events without fear or judgment
- Introducing them to charity events and church functions that support those in need
- Exposing them to innovative skills such as environmental science, robotics, medicine, or technical innovation (such as app development)
- Exposing them to everyday skills needed for life skills such as money counting, typing, reading, math, etiquette, housekeeping, plant rearing, and self-defense sports
- Allowing them to research and have time for creation (free painting, music, scientific kits, or anything that holds their interest
- Exposing them to different venues of entertainment
- Introducing them to children from various backgrounds
- Reading to them and watching documentaries that pique their interest
- Playtime, projects, or outdoor activities for parental bonding
What to Expect
Kids always know more than parents suspect. Honesty and discernment are vital for every parent raising a child. The Alpha generation connects to the world around them. Selecting child-safe media is wise, but allowing them to learn about different aspects of the everyday modern world will help them adjust to our ever-changing social climate. More importantly, children who learn wisdom and love will be able to contribute to the world around them for the better. Foster a strong relationship with your child that revolves more around principle than control. More than ever, it is imperative for children to develop meaningful relationships and develop an interest in something bigger than themselves. For more parenting advice, check out our entire blog.
Generation Alpha: Everything Brands Need To Know (2022) (shopify.com)