By: Casey Baldwin
MS Assistant Principal and Athletic Director
In my ripe age of almost 39 (yes, a proud Millennial), self reflection has been an important tool as I consider different aspects of my life, whether that be professional or personal life events. I often find myself reflecting on and analyzing daily experiences with our middle school students. In previous Miner Mails, Mr. Thygesen and I have discussed how working with middle school can be challenging. One thing we haven’t discussed is our generational differences and how we cope with daily tasks. What exactly does it mean when working with this generation?
Right now, we are working with “Generation Alpha,” who were born between 2010 and 2024. The reason they are named Generation Alpha is because as Mark McCrindle states in Understanding Generation Alpha, they are “not a return to the old, but the start of something new.” Even more than their parent’s generation (the Millennials), Generation Alpha is being shaped in the new millennium. This Alpha cohort is the first generation to be fully born in the 21st Century and to be shaped in this new era. While they are currently the youngest generation, they have brand influence and purchasing power beyond their years. They shape the social media landscape, are the popular culture influencers and emerging consumers. By the end of the 2020s, the oldest members of Generation Alpha will move into adulthood, join the workforce and begin building households, ready or not.
These students grew up with screens alongside pacifiers; the first iPad was first produced and hit the market in 2010. It is said that these students will have shorter attention spans to the gamification of education, from increased digital literacy to impaired social formation, these times impact us all but transform those in their formative years. While they are more adept at scanning for information, a study published in March by the British media regulator Ofcom found that an increasing number of children reported they struggled to focus on one screen-based activity at a time. This is something we’ve observed within our student population.
These students were born during the rise of social media, which introduced us to “sharenting,” a new term to describe parents who post often about their kids and their lives. The lives of these students have been plastered all over the internet, which experts have also found has its drawbacks. A parent constantly posting photos online could heighten a child’s self-focus and make them feel that being “ordinary” isn’t enough, which can negatively impact mental health. Eileen Kennedy-Moore, a New Jersey-based author who’s a clinical psychologist specializing in parenting and child development said, “The idea that ‘I have to be extraordinary or I’m worthless,’ is very, very dangerous.”
We often see students unable to handle conflict in age-appropriate social situations and they are unable to accept feedback when working through the situations together as adults to students.The purpose of these communications is to help build a bridge of understanding not a moat of misunderstandings. As we continue to work together, it’s important that we all have a mutual understanding of the impacts of the world around us. How can we support one another and in turn support the student? It’s incredibly important to be on the same page to create a safe and structured learning environment.
As educators and parents, here are some things we can do to help our Gen. Alphas learn (some of these may seem silly or like “Duh” moments, but there is something to be said about going back to basics):
Create structure. We don’t have to keep up with the Jones’s. It’s okay to use the word “NO” and have boundaries with our children.
Encourage open communication. Encourage your children to express their thoughts and feelings openly and actively listen to them. At the middle school level we’ve seen more and more students struggle with how to have conversations with friends to work out their dilemmas.
Foster independence and self-reliance. Encourage them to take on responsibilities and make their own decisions. One way to foster independence is to give your children the freedom to explore and make their own choices within a structured environment.
Emphasize technology education. What is fake news? Teach them about harmful websites as well as being aware of online predators. This doesn’t mean a NO technology household; it means more and more monitoring and frequent communications and education on technology.
Provide opportunities for social awareness and social experiences. Encourage your children to learn about different cultures, perspectives, and social issues. This will help them become more empathetic and understanding individuals. You can also do this by being a positive role model for acting with kindness and empathy.
This generation will continue to surprise us. Although there seems to be major differences in who WE are compared to Generation Alpha, we don’t necessarily need to think totally outside the box. This generation is striving more for independence yet still needs bumpers to guide them in the right direction. Technology will continue to advance and this generation will be leading the way.