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You've probably come across a post on social media that goes something like this: "While riding bicycles, we never wore helmets. We played before school, then again after school until dusk, and rarely watched TV. We played with real friends, not virtual ones. When we were thirsty, we drank water from the tap, or from the hose, not bottled water. We never worried even when we shared the same glass of juice with four friends. We never got fat eating a full pot of pasta every day..."
Is every generation prone to idealizing their childhood and how they were raised, or has the time come when new generations have become aware of their parents' mistakes in their approach to upbringing? Does each generation try to make completely opposite moves from their parents? Do you come into conflict with your parents about raising your children, their grandchildren?
Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and others...
Compared to their parents from the so-called Boomer generation ("baby boomers," born between 1946 and 1964), Millennials and Generation X show significantly different approaches to parenting.
While Boomers most often used traditional, authoritarian methods and gave priority to stability, discipline, and work, Generation X (born between 1965 and 1980) turned towards greater support and engagement in children's lives.
Millennials, born between 1981 and 1996, are considered to have a tendency towards more open, positive parenting, with a greater emphasis on emotional intelligence, a healthy work-life balance, as well as involvement in technological trends. pozitivnijem roditeljstvu, uz veći naglasak na emocionalnu inteligenciju, zdravu ravnotežu između posla i privatnog života, kao i uključenost u tehnološke trendove.
Although it's still early to claim what the results of the upbringing applied by young parents, members of the Gen Z period, are, it's noticeable that they focus on the mental health and well-being of their children.
Each generation carries with it unique values, beliefs, and lifestyles that are also transferred to parenting. The influence of the generation we belong to on how we raise children is undeniable, and differences between generations can significantly shape parenting style and, consequently, child development.
On the playground or in the birthday venue, you've probably noticed different parenting styles that are often associated with the generation the parents belong to. Some parents constantly watch over their children and hover around them like "helicopters," constantly supervising and directing them. On the other hand, some other parents may seem like they're not paying attention to their children at all, but are chatting among themselves or looking at their phones, leaving the children to their activities. Can this be attributed to a generationally conditioned parenting style?
Boomers: Firm hand and "old school"
Differences in generations often lead to disagreements in the approach to parenting. Older parents from the Boomer generation may seem too relaxed or old-fashioned in the eyes of Millennials and Generation X members. The way they raised children, from today's perspective, seems like "toughening up," and even neglect.
Conversely, Boomers often see Millennials as parents who behave too protectively and have a tendency to spoil their children or consider them too focused on technology.
Gen X: On the seesaw between engagement and excessive supervision
Generation X members spent a lot of time alone at home while their parents worked. Growing up with less supervision and support, Gen X parents were the first to start moving away from the authoritarian style, preferring a more engaged approach to parenting. However, their tendency towards overprotectiveness that they will provide to their children can negatively affect the development of independence and emotional resilience in children.
The so-called "helicopter parenting" to which this generation of parents is prone represents a parenting style characterized by excessive control and supervision over the child, often to the extent that parents perform tasks instead of the child. Experts warn that this approach can lead to a lack of independence and self-confidence in children, and it's important to encourage them to face challenges and solve problems on their own.
Millennials: Between career, parenting, and social media
Millennials, currently aged between 30 and 40, approach parenting in a completely different way compared to previous generations. Research shows that Millennials take on the role of parents with the same level of planning and professionalism as when making important career decisions. Moreover, Millennials often express fear of repeating their parents' mistakes in raising their children, striving to adopt a different and more inclusive approach to parenting. This generation of parents is dedicated to correcting the mistakes of past generations, which has led to a change in the parental approach from "do as I do" to "fix what we did."
In addition, Millennials face the influence of social media, feeling pressure to keep up with their peers, while at the same time recognizing the importance of quality time spent with their children. Millennial parents are increasingly rejecting traditional career paths, believing that formal education is not the only key to future success. Additionally, more than half of Millennials believe that classic school education does not prepare children for future challenges, so they turn to alternative methods of transferring knowledge and skills to their little ones.
Gen Z: Supportive parents present in their children's lives
Young parents belonging to Generation Z often show openness to new technologies and the digital world, while at the same time striving to provide support, attention, and emotional closeness to their children.
For now, it seems that Gen Z will be much more open-minded when it comes to decisions made by their children – they will be more flexible when it comes to career choices, partners, places to live, and the food their children eat.
There is no perfect recipe for parenting. The only thing we can do is learn from each other and take the best from each generational perspective. By understanding and respecting different parenting styles, we can create a richer and more balanced approach to raising children. Whichever generation we belong to, we should be open to working on empowering children to adopt key values and strengthen character, while spending quality time with them.
By combining values that never "go out of style" with modern approaches to parenting, we will be able to provide our children with the best of both worlds, ensuring them the love, support, and freedom necessary for their healthy development and happiness.
References:
- Beano Brain white paper, „Raising Gen Alpha: How Millennial Parenting is Impacting the Next Generation“
- Brianne Hogan, „What Your Generation Says About Your Parenting Style“, Updated February 4, 2024
- Istraživanje: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7602436/
