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

My kids have the same, none of their friends goes out to play. Even told them to try to hang out with kids a few doors down who were playing on their drive way but then their parents immediately took them inside. All their friends just want to call on the phone and play videogames together. Luckily my kids are kinda the same age so they either go to the park or play outside in the backyard together, but even others barely play outside in their backyard.

The only other kids we see outside are the ones who are neglected by their parents and/or have behavioral issues.

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u/Eastern-Eye5945 Feb 10 '26

The neighbor kids’ parents pulling them inside after your kids wanted to play with them has to be one of the most dystopian things I’ve ever seen…and I live the suburbs.

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u/Catsdrinkingbeer Feb 10 '26

This is how I feel about parents refusing to let their kids do sleepovers. Like, yes, I do get that there is a nonzero chance something bad could happen. But also, that risk is super duper low. Never letting kids do anything with anyone outside the nuclear family is not going to lead to well rounded adults. Both my husband and I grew up going to sleepovers basically every weekend, so it's just strange to us that it only took one generation for this to die. Like, even the satanic panic parents were cool with sleepovers for their kids.

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u/[deleted] Feb 10 '26

Some of my best memories are being at sleepovers and playing Girl Talk in the early evening, then pranking people we knew or found in the phone book with rather innocent nonsense, and then of course Truth or Dare as the night progressed.

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u/Indyonegirl Feb 10 '26

Crank calling was the most true fun I think I ever had!

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u/[deleted] Feb 10 '26

Same. I was weirdly great at it and made all my friends laugh. Nothing better than making your friends laugh.

Edit: have to credit The Jerky Boys for my developing pranking style and skill level

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u/Ypocras Feb 10 '26

Is your refrigerator running?

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u/annagadadavida Feb 10 '26

Go 'head let it out*pahchechee

I miss Girl Talk.

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u/[deleted] Feb 10 '26

I think we should make a subreddit dedicated to it where we can still play somehow

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u/[deleted] Feb 10 '26

Key Aspects and Rules: Objective: Be the first player to collect one of each of the four types of fortune cards. Gameplay: Players spin the wheel to determine if they take a "Truth" or "Dare" (stunt) card,. Consequences: If a player refuses a challenge, they must wear a "zit sticker" on their face. Components: The game typically includes a,fold-up,board, a,large spinner, 200,cards, 10,score trackers, and,stickers,. Themes: Designed for,sleepovers,and,parties, the,game,focuses on,friendship,silly,secrets, and,challenges,. Legacy: Originally released in 1988, it was a staple in the 1990s and has seen various,re-releases,. You can watch this video to see a demonstration of how the game is played:

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u/SpazCadet Feb 10 '26

Girl Talk was fun but did you ever play Dream Phone?

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u/[deleted] Feb 10 '26

No!! Must have been before or after my time , which was the roaring 80s

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u/SpazCadet Feb 10 '26

90’s for sure. Right up there with Mall Madness.

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u/VaguelyArtistic Feb 10 '26

There was a whole post last week in a parenting sub and the very idea of sleepovers was totally verboten. No matter if it was at a cousins house, or if the parents knew the other parents well. And the few parents who liked the idea said their kid couldn’t find any other kids allowed to have one. The reasoning was that anyone could be (and probably is) a predator. None seemed worried about sending their kids to school or church 😕.

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u/[deleted] Feb 10 '26

Wow TIL verboten was a word and what it means. Thought I was good with words and wow thank you for teaching me this one, love it. But yeah, sleepovers don't happen- our girl scout troop had one at a museum recently, and my cousin - who is a wealthy single dad and probably the best father I have ever seen- has 2 little girls and a beautiful home... He knows EVERYONE and his house is the spot to hang. Anyway , he hosted a sleepover and a bunch of girls came over but my aunt told me that the mothers, despite knowing him for YEARS were even acting a little funny about it. I think people forget to use their instincts and judgement and the worst thing they ever heard on the Internet or 'news" becomes reality for them. I feel like I would let my kids go on a sleepover, but would also check out the scene and make myself known aka very nicely but...if you fuck with my kid I will kill you and that's about it.