b'STATE OF CHILD DISCIPLESHIP REPORT 24Who Is the Gen Alpha Child? Enter anxiety.The majority of kids in our childrens ministries today are members of Anxiety and depression among children and adolescents increased 27Generation Alpha, children born between 2010 and 2024. This young percent and 24 percent, respectively, from 2016 to 2019well on its way generation has already been shaped by global events such as the tail endto epidemic numbers, and that was before COVID was ever on the horizon. 6 of the Great Recession and onset of COVID-19. Gen Alpha also represents aThe issue has not been hidden; even without hard data, society in the U.S. social experiment in parenting. Most of todays parents choose to raise theirhas talked about anxiety and depression till were blue in the face. We talk, kids differently from how they were raised, whether it was a gentle, and we remove kids from large schools. We scour the web, crowdsource for helicopter, permissive or authoritative parenting style. But perhaps what hassuggestions on therapists, and teach kids yoga and mindful breathing. And shaped Gen Alpha the most is the onset of a new digital age. these are not necessarily bad things for our Gen Alpha children. In theory, this generation could be the most holistically cared for and in touch with their Born the same year the iPad launched, screens and technology have beenfeelings ever. part of their everyday life. In fact, many parents of this generation report posting their childs first picture (an ultrasound photo) to social media All of these factorsworld events, parenting practices, digital experiences before the child was born. But it doesnt stop there. With apps to help withand mental healthshow up in a variety of behaviors and expectationspotty training, videos to distract during meal times and educational gamesevery week in your childrens ministry. And they also affect the way weto prepare them for kindergarten, this generation has experienced many interact with children.of lifes milestones through technology. Most of Gen Alpha spent their early elementary years attending school, doctor appointments and family Words of wisdom from child discipleship leaders like you:gatherings online due to the pandemic. But technology wont just be a huge part of their childhood; its expected that 65% of Gen Alpha will havetechnology-based jobs for things that have not yet been created. 4 Recognize each childs needs and love them on their level. Do what you can to help [them]. Exposure to and experience with technology does not, however, equateto healthy responses to technology. The Anxious Generation says this: Mental health and trauma is REAL in children. Overprotectionintherealworldandunderprotectioninthe virtualworldarethemajorreasonswhychildrenbornafterKids need relationships with adults who know them and 1995 became the anxious generation. The same parent who iscare about them, and are willing to engage.meticulous about balanced meals and bike helmets may pay little attention to whats on the screen in front of their child. And while children became adept at navigating from one browser to another or tapping a touchscreen instead of clicking with a mouse, they did not evolve to handle the virality, anonymity, instability, and potential for large-scale public shaming of the virtual world. Even adults have trouble with it. 516 17'