Have you heard of the Howe-Strauss generation theory? Do you know which generation you belong to? Even if not, it will be useful for you to find out which generation your children belong to and how they differ from you. Thanks to this, you will be able to understand them better and have fewer conflicts. And also help them grow up happy and fulfill themselves in life.
Parents of Alpha children, or briefly about the generation theory
In 1991, two people, more precisely, two American scientists, Neil Howe and William Strauss, developed the generation theory. According to this theory, every 15–25 years a generation is born and grows up with a similar system of values and behavior in society.
Do you recognize the qualities of your parents, grandparents? They are not like you, so misunderstandings often arise.
To prevent this from happening between you and your children, let's talk about you—the parents of future children.
If you are currently between 25 and 40 years old and were born between 1980 and 1995, you belong to the Millennial generation. You love freedom, strive for self-development, want to enjoy your work and earn well, spend a lot of time on the internet, and communicate on social networks.
These qualities appeared in you because you grew up during the peak of urbanization, the development of high technologies, and unlimited opportunities. Your parents thought that you were the generation that would turn the world upside down. And that's exactly what happened. But the world continues to change, so what can we expect from the children of the new generation?
Who are Alpha children and why are they not like you?
Generation Alpha includes children born from 2010 to the present day. Why was this year chosen as the starting point? It was during this time that the iPad and Instagram appeared, which influenced the global digitization of modern children.
Generation Alpha are the least studied children. Therefore, educators today increasingly ask questions: "How to interest them?", "How to keep their attention?", "How to get them to do what we want?". Old methods no longer work with these children.
In fact, everything is simple—understand, accept, and don't break. Let's first learn to understand Alpha children.
How do Alphas differ from previous generations?
Future generation, saviors of humanity, great minds, and diplomats—this is how researchers characterize modern children, and here's why.
Alpha children don't know a world without gadgets and the internet
Scientists call them futurists. Children who were born with gadgets in their hands and explore the world through digital technologies receive exponentially more information from infancy than we ever did.
They have blurred temporal and spatial boundaries
Because with the help of the internet, Alphas can communicate here and now with relatives working or living in other countries. They also have the opportunity to get results immediately—just enter a query into the search bar.
They are not attached to their home country and are loyal to all races
Now we travel a lot and can afford to live in other countries for several months. By school age, our children have already managed to visit at least 5 countries. Therefore, they easily accept the fact that people of different nationalities live on Earth and that this is normal.
Alpha children are born with a spirit of creation
Alphas are born in an era of ecological crisis and global climate change. Therefore, they are genetically predisposed to a sense of creation, not destruction. It is they who bear the responsibility for the rational use of natural resources, the restructuring of the economy, and the salvation of humanity.
They know their purpose
Alphas clearly know who they are, what they want, and why they came into this world. You will not be able to impose your point of view and values on them.
They do not tolerate pressure and violence
For Alpha children, freedom of choice and respect for their opinion are very important. Therefore, it is difficult to get what you want from them through threats, pressure, and coercion.
Summing up the above, let's outline the main features of Alpha children:
- Bright, creative, passionate, and self-sufficient individuals.
- They have well-developed critical thinking and love to learn, but only if it interests them.
- They are persistent, goal-oriented, and freedom-loving.
- They are ready for dialogue and can always be negotiated with.
Now you understand how your child differs from you. Accept this. And we will tell you how not to ruin the potential of your unique child and not turn a bright personality into a gray mouse.
How to raise Generation Alpha children?
You have probably heard many times the opinions of educators and psychologists that a child should not be beaten. And you, like many parents, may have been indignant about this approach because you were raised with a belt and nothing terrible happened.
But your child is different and needs to be treated differently.
Three main principles to follow when raising Alpha children:
1. Cooperation and equality
Let's consider a simple example of cooperation. Take any everyday situation where you need to get your child to do something specific, such as washing their hands. You say: "Go wash your hands!". The child does not hurry. You repeat the request and raise your voice, but the child's reaction does not change.
The thing is, Alpha children need to be explained why they should do what you are asking them to do.
For example: "Please wash your hands when you come in from outside. Because there are a lot of germs on your hands that can make you sick and send you to the hospital. Do you want that?". Of course, the child does not want to go to the hospital, and now they will always wash their hands.
Simple? More than. Always try to negotiate.
2. Honesty
Following the second principle is also not difficult. Just be honest with your child. Alpha children value sincerity and can sense insincerity well. If you lie, the child will definitely understand and regaining their trust will be extremely difficult.
3. Lots of communication
As for communication, it is important to remember its value. Modern children absorb information at the speed of light, so it must be filtered and useful. Listen to your child and think about how to answer their questions more succinctly.
Communicate with them as equals. Talk about everything that interests them and calmly accept their chattiness and tendency to make things up. When children are constantly talked to and explained what is happening to them, they navigate the world better and understand from childhood what they want from life.
Don't ask your child what they want to be when they grow up. According to researchers' forecasts, in 10 years about 70 modern professions will disappear. Of course, new ones will appear, but no one knows what they will be.
University diplomas will also lose their value in the future. Skills and knowledge that people of the future will acquire online will be important.
Already now, we observe that children aged 4–6 learn online with more pleasure and success than through traditional methods. Because they are different. Therefore, do not confine your child to frameworks; time will show who they become.
And in conclusion, here's one more piece of advice.
Every day, tell your child the phrase: "You can become whoever you want. I love you the way you are and will always love you, no matter who you become." Do we need to explain the value and power of these words?
Love your children, be friends with them, and be happy.
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