Do you worry about the world we are leaving our children? Have the events of 2020 escalated your concern?

If you go by everything the media is reporting about national debt, future employment and the environment, everything may seem hopeless. Today I wanted to share some great news about Generation Alpha, the term that McCrindle, an Australian human behaviour research company, has given to children born between 2010-2024.

I am a Gen Xer, which is the generation after the Boomers. I started my parenting journey a little later in life, so I am now raising Gen Alpha’s. I know there is a lot to be done, but I see the road forward with optimism and full of possibility for this new generation of kids.

I would never diminish the wisdom and life experience that comes with age and living a full life. I have written before about the ongoing potential we all have, no matter what our age.

However, research has shown that human intelligence rises with each generation, depending on the research, from 3-10 percentile points. This means that my kids could be as many as 20 percentile points smarter than Gen X. I find this so exciting.

Currently in Australia, all our political state leaders, from the Prime Minister to every Premier and Chief Minister are Gen Xers. There is a lot of responsibility on Gen X to make things better. Current announcements are already showing greater discrimination towards older workers getting back into the workforce post COVID. The way we treat our ageing workforce sets us up for the same treatment as we age. Food for thought.

Other than their escalating IQ, what is unique about Gen Alpha? According to McCrindle, here is some interesting information:

• In 4-years Gen Alpha will outnumber the Baby Boomers and they will become the largest generation in human history
• They will be more technologically savvy than any other generation
• They will live longer than any other generation, seeing in the next century
• They already have a global view because of their online presence, and see themselves as participants in making the world a better place
• They will be at home and school longer
• Upskilling and retraining will be a normal part of career
• They will be part of the gig economy
• 65% will work in jobs that currently don’t exist

What can we as parents raising Gen Alpha’s do to prepare them for their future?

• Teach them resilience, adaptability, grit, and determination.
• Instil values that will guide them through the upcoming ethical dilemmas of their time, like Artificial Intelligence.
• Equip them to learn life competencies, including people skills, financial skills, and general life skills that go beyond the classroom.

Many of these concepts require us, as parents, Future Proofing ourselves. We can’t teach what we don’t know. If you are struggling with your own resilience, it may be time to do something about. It takes courage, and building our own resilience has flow on effects to future proofing our children too.

We can leave a legacy of emotional resilience for our children, so that they can then truly embrace the gifts of their generation and navigate their uncertainties. Whether you are Gen Z or Y raising Gen Alpha’s, we have a role to play in shaping this worlds future and it starts in our own homes.