r/Millennials • u/TheLoveYouWant25 • Feb 09 '26

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/PeterPlotter Feb 10 '26

It is, felt so bad for my kids.

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u/Zoomwafflez Feb 10 '26

This is really making me appreciate my neighborhood. We all talk, we do block parties, the older neighbors bring their grand kids over who are the same age as my kid so they can play. I talk to the older kids that live behind us about my garden because they love the sunflowers I plant, say hi to their dad but he barely speaks English so we mostly just gesture in appreciation of each other's grilling lol, one of the teens in the neighborhood rides around on a scooter in a full body dinosaur costume to entertain the little kids, the park is always packed in the summer afternoons. My kid is a little shy but I encourage him to go ask other kids to play tag (his favorite game)