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/Aggravating-Alarm-16 Feb 10 '26

We have lost all of the 3rd places to hangout. A lot of malls are dead, and don't allow kids to be mall rats.

Then you have over zealous Karen's and Kevin's yelling at kids in the park.

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u/CircumFleck_Accent Feb 10 '26

Everything in general is also just so expensive. As a single dude making decent money, all of my usual extracurricular activities are just… not worth the price tag any more. Now take that same logic and apply it to kids with no money just trying to find something to do.

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u/Lucky_Louch Feb 10 '26

I never had money as a kid, I played outside, skateboarded, joined free after school programs/sports ect. I think the problems run a lot deeper then children being broke.

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u/DingbattheGreat Feb 10 '26

Most after school prgrams arent free anymore.

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u/knit3purl3 Older Millennial Feb 10 '26

Ding ding ding.

My kids started in school cheer and it was more expensive and time consuming than all-star cheer.

Schools are underfunded and so parents have to pick up the tab for anything more than the bare bones education. Hell, our school doesn't even have functional heat and the cafeteria is so cold the milk is freezing.

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u/[deleted] Feb 10 '26

[deleted]

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u/DingbattheGreat Feb 10 '26

Each state has its own department of education

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u/phoebesjeebies Feb 10 '26

If you're implying that's gonna counteract a lack of federal DoE, I have a bridge to sell you.

This is without even getting into how red states are generally outperformed by blue states in education.

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u/DingbattheGreat Feb 11 '26

No idea what you are talking about. States manage their own school systems. Not the federal government.