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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to think we are currently raising the most dull generation yet??

132 replies

Rosaofthevalley · 10/03/2024 22:13

I have my own children who thankfully have a wide range of interests but they are increasingly finding it harder to actually communicate with other kids. I understand we all have different interests but I actually don’t know how to guide them through this.

I’m around a wide range of kids, schools, clubs, long term friends children, newer ones etc and it seems that an alarming amount of them have NO interests, like zero! Conversations usually revolve around phones, YouTube, TikTok, video games but they have no real world interests. This is if they look up long enough to hold a conversation with each other.

As a millennial myself I think as a generation we are seriously failing our kids. There are so many more behavioural issues, concentration and communication are at an all time low.
My friends who are still in teaching are pulling their hair out at the amount of crowd control needed on top of teaching (I left teaching 10yrs ago and definitely saw the start of a decline but nothing like now.)

I think they’re bored, but without the skills or imagination needed to combat boredom. Surely I can’t be the only one who thinks this??

OP posts:
Momstermunch · 11/03/2024 07:09

I think it's pretty normal to only find your own kids interesting. Which is basically what you're saying.

Whattodowithit88 · 11/03/2024 07:07

I don’t think you need to be too concerned. They’re little children, primary ages, so it doesn’t really matter if they currently have no interests. Most people, like all the generations before, discover different interests all throughout their lives

Mishmashs · 11/03/2024 07:01

Sort of. I have two young teenage relatives who have nothing to say and have their heads permanently bent over their phones. But I meet other children who won’t stop talking! And have lots of say.

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 10/03/2024 23:56

My dd is older, but I know a few primary aged kids and don't recognise what you describe.

JamSandle · 10/03/2024 23:36

Surely they're too young to be able to gauge whether they're 'interesting' or not? They're little children.

Rosaofthevalley · 10/03/2024 22:46

Sorry yes I meant kid kids. Primary age. Your kids are the ages I taught and although there were odd ones they definitely had more interests than those now. Also I never had a single child in my class with a phone, whereas it’s now common place. Again, primary school.

OP posts:
mondaytosunday · 10/03/2024 22:36

What age are we talking about? My oldest is 20. His passion is working out, kickboxing and his football team. He's active - doesn't watch TV and likes to be 'doing'.
My 18 year old is creative. This week alone she and her friends went to the Science Museum, a concert at the National Gallery, an independent gallery - all spontaneously after college (half day during the week one day). They all have different interests and passions. They don't spend much time on social media.
A friends kids are into cooking, fishing, riding, sport. I know this is just a few kids, but they seem plenty active and interested.