The Generational Gap
It’s basically tradition at this point for every generation to think the one after them has got it all wrong. But when it comes to boomers and Gen Z, the rivalry is palpable. One thing most individuals struggle to agree on is parenting, which is why it’s no surprise that some of these trends have been abandoned. However, one can’t help but wonder if that was for better or worse.
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1. No Talking Back to Adults
While the children of boomers had many freedoms, including carefree curfews and a come-and-go policy, most of the rules got strict when it came to interacting with their parents. There was an inherent respect for authority, and these kids knew better than to be disrespectful and talk back.
2. Good Grades Are Everything
Boomers placed a major emphasis on grades, as school was one of the most surefire ways to guarantee a good life. Good grades meant a good college, which meant a good career, which meant a good future. However, this has changed recently, and nowadays all school does is give kids debt without any job prospects to follow.
3. Children Should Be Seen and Not Heard
This is certainly one of the more extreme boomer parenting rules out there. Children were expected to not interfere in adult conversations and remain polite and quiet in the face of company.
4. No Privacy for Kids
Privacy is a pretty novel sensation for modern kids, and in the past, it was common for parents to closely monitor their kids. Of course, it was easier keeping tabs on your children when there weren’t hundreds of devices at their fingertips. Nowadays, kids have too much privacy, especially on their phones, which leaves them exposed to dangerous actors.
5. Gender-Specific Roles for Boys and Girls
The older generation had pretty stringent expectations for boys and girls. The famous saying, “boys will be boys,” stems from this parenting. While girls were nurtured, boys were expected to be tough. In the same breath, girls were more likely to be kept under lock and key, while boys were permitted to roam.
6. Physical Discipline
Physical discipline is definitely a hot topic, but it wasn’t too outlandish back in the day. In fact, physical acts such as light spanking were widely accepted and were even a relatively popular disciplining method.
7. Early Bedtimes
Boomers were quite good at keeping their kids on a schedule. Not only were there curfews, but early bedtimes further enforced routine. Turns out routine is great for humans, and there is nothing more powerful than ritual. Kids that were raised to go to bed at a decent time are more likely to continue doing so into adulthood.
8.Timely Dinners
Building on this idea of a strict routine, boomers had fixed dinner times too. Most of these dinners involved family settings and gave time for conversation and bonding. Nowadays, it’s all too common for each member of the family to eat at entirely different times.
9. Rainy Day Savings
Boomers were known to be quite frugal and had reliable spending habits that ensured their longevity and success. They trained their kids on these similar life lessons and preferred pocketing for rainy days rather than living in the moment.
10. Kids Should Figure Out Bullying on Their Own
Bullying has been occurring in schools for ages, and boomers had a dismissive outlook on this. They took bullying to be part of growing up and entrusted their kids to handle this with minimal involvement on their end.
Now that we have talked about some of the most prolific boomer parenting tropes, here are 10 rules the newer generation is determined to avoid, for better or worse.
1. Mutual Respect Over Blind Obedience
The days of parents having complete control over their kids is long gone, and instead, Gen Z operates on teaching respect through understanding. Instead of using the phrase “because I told you so,” Gen Z parents are more likely to explain their reasoning and appeal to logic.
2. Non-Physical Discipline Techniques
Gen Z is pretty strict on their dismissal of physical punishments. Instead, they use positive reinforcement to discipline their kids. Of course, this is a very heated tactic. While avoiding physical actions is completely fair, never punishing your kid verbally can lead to entitled children who can’t fathom the thought of someone saying “no” to them.
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3. Encouraging Kids to Speak Up Early
Rather than encouraging their children to keep quiet and be seen, Gen Z prefers to have an open dialogue. They try to be involved in their kids' lives and are eager to hear their thoughts and opinions on a variety of things.
4. Balancing Grades
It’s pretty evident that Gen Z prioritizes mental health and physical health equally. In fact, they consider mental well-being to be on the same footing as academic excellence. Gen Z isn’t afraid to let grades slide in exchange for a well-rounded and happier kid. Considering the current school system, who can blame them?
5. Flexible Family Schedules
While boomers were all about the strict family meal at fixed times, Gen Z is more flexible and adapts to their kids' routines and lifestyles. Additionally, plenty of kids are permitted to eat whenever they want and eat whatever they want. This might be a double-edged sword though, as many kids have ended up with lackluster diets due to this.
6. Valuing Privacy
Unlike boomers, Gen Z recognizes their kids' desire for privacy and personal space. While kids should have their own areas and be allowed autonomy, too many parents have no clue what’s going on in their kids' lives or the strangers they’re talking to. In fact, many kids lie to their parents about what they do on their devices, and there have been multiple scandals about kid-oriented services or channels showcasing inappropriate things. Be careful out there!
7. Living in the Moment
Gen Z is more flexible about saving too, and while they want to teach their kids financial responsibility, they also encourage living life to the fullest and partaking in new experiences. In today’s economy, it’s hard to save for anything, so you might as well try to enjoy the time you have.
8. Proactive Anti-Bullying Strategies
Gen Z and the school system in general take bullying very seriously. Schools have unfortunately become dangerous places for children, which is why there are many announcements and initiatives that attempt to combat such behaviors. Unfortunately, this seems to have little effect, with many kids reporting bullying and teachers being helpless to intervene or stop it due to disrespect from bullies.
9. Breaking Gender Norms
Traditional gender norms have increasingly become a thing of the past, and Gen Z parents take pride in teaching their boys accountability and respect and allowing their girls to explore all opportunities and craft their own identities.
10. Feeling Their Feelings
While boomers encouraged their kids to suppress their feelings in order to act appropriately and tough out hard situations, Gen Z has a different approach. They want to understand their kids' emotions and encourage them to talk about it and share their thoughts wherever they go.
