A new generation of teenagers are nowhere compared to their millennial counterparts. These new set of teenagers, also known as Generation Z, are less driven, less sociable and less likely to follow rules according to Child Development.
Generation Z is not following the things that Millenials did when they were younger, they do not engage in early alcohol use and most are not as interested in sex. In fact, you are most likely to see them watching Netflix and doing videos for TikTok than hanging out and going to the mall. Most Gen Z teens do not think that getting a driver's license is necessary since they do not go out much.
As a parent, this may be confusing and baffling, since we are all so used to teenagers being rowdy and outgoing, but now the opposite is happening. So how can you adjust to this new generation's lifestyle and point of view? Here are some tips on how to be a parent to a Generation Z teen.
Parenting a Gen Z teen
Generation Z teens love their phones, if you observe them enough, you will see that they are always on it. The internet has become their safe space and they would rather talk to people online than in real life. What you can do is limit their screen time, encourage them to turn off their phones for hours a day and interact either with your or their friends.
Another thing that Generation Z teens are more open about is their sexuality. They no longer care about hiding who they are, unlike Millennial and Boomers who had a hard time identifying themselves other than straight, Gen Z teens do not care about labels and they are more open to having relationships with anyone regardless of their gender. What you can do as a parent is to open your mind to the possibilities, and let your child know that you are there, ready to listen to them and accept them for who they are, as this generation is unapologetically themselves, helping the LGBTQ community to take a massive step forward.
As mentioned earlier, this new generation of teenagers do not like to go out as much, so as a parent it is important that you encourage them to interact and participate in activities outside of your home. Gen Z teens are using their phones and computers to talk to their friends, but nothing beats a face to face conversation.
You can put them in charge of ordering your dinner, calling a restaurant, scheduling their doctor's appointment, talking to the cashier at the farmers market and other tasks that require them to socialize.
And of course, parents should let their children fail and feel the ramifications of their actions. Experts have said that Millenials were too sheltered by their Boomer parents, and that is a mistake that we do not want to pass down to the new generation. If your child makes a mistake, let him or her feel the consequences and deal with it, but be there if they need help. Let them fail and solve problems on their own.
Adjusting as a parent
You and your child may be generations apart, but it does not mean that you can't meet at a common ground. At the end of the day, you want your child to be happy and successful, and that is the one thing that won't change no matter how many generations will go by. You can share your knowledge and experiences with them, but also try to adjust to the situation and know that they have their own life to live and this generation has already created a whole set of rules that they want to follow.
ALSO READ: Communicating With Teenagers: The Do's And Don'ts Every Parent Should Remember
