Kids These Days

 

Navigating a New World: The Strength of Today’s Students

A few weeks ago, at a conference, we were asked to complete the sentence, "Kids these days…” My first thought was, “Have the ability to learn anything for free”, but the more I thought about the question, I added a few things to my perspective in a different way. 

Kids these days are asked to navigate a world unlike anything we have ever seen, and they are doing so with incredible resilience, adaptability, and strength.

The Challenge of Devices and Social Media

Today’s students are growing up in an era where smartphones, social media, and 24/7 connectivity are normal. While these technologies offer amazing opportunities—instant access to information, global connections, and platforms for creativity—they also present challenges.

Students must learn to manage the constant notifications, the pressure of social comparison, and the addictive nature of these devices. Technology today requires students to have an incredible amount of self-awareness and a strong sense of identity. They are required to not only survive, but thrive in today’s digital world. 

The Power of Curiosity

As educators it is crucial that we approach this situation with curiosity rather than judgment. We need to ask our students what it’s like to operate in this world. What if we learn about what they see as the biggest struggles and causes of overwhelm? What if we talk to them, listening and learning from them to discover what strategies they use to navigate the noise? By asking questions, we can better understand their experiences and support them in developing the skills they need. 

Life as a Series of Drafts

One of the most valuable perspectives we can share with our students is that life is like a series of drafts—a series of iterations of possible futures where they get to decide which one fits. In a world full of options and opportunities, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But, this same world packed with options and opportunities offers abundance. Today, students are able to explore different paths, to try and fail, and to learn and grow from each experience. A draft mindset could help students see that they are not locked into any one path and that they have the power to shape their future as opportunities unfold.

The Barking Dog and the Wise Owl

In a video Explaining the Brain to Children and Adolescents, there is a powerful analogy that resonates deeply in today’s world. Imagine there’s a barking dog in your mind, trying to protect you, but it’s so loud that it drowns out everything else. This dog represents the fear, anxiety, and distractions that can take over when we’re overwhelmed. On the other hand, there’s a wise owl in your mind that knows what to do and how to think clearly. 

But often, the owl flies away because the dog’s barking is too loud.

 Naming the dog and its breed can even help personalize this process, making it easier for students to recognize and manage these feelings. It is essential that students develop the skills to tell the barking dog to calm down, to let it know they are okay, and to allow the wise owl to guide them.

The Need for Skills and Awareness

In a world filled with constant noise—whether from social media, peers, or internal pressures—students need to cultivate strong self-awareness and mental skills. Without these, the barking dog will always drown out the wise owl, making it difficult for them to learn, grow, and make thoughtful decisions.

Teaching students how to manage this internal noise is just as important as teaching them academic content. It’s about equipping them with the tools to navigate their world with confidence and clarity.

Celebrating Their Strength

The sentence "Kids these days," deserves to be finished with gratitude. Students today are growing up in a world that requires them to be stronger, more self-aware, and more adaptable than any generation before them. And they are rising to the challenge. 

As educators, our role is to support them, to be curious about their experiences, and to help them find the balance between the barking dog and the wise owl within themselves. When the noise is quiet, the potential is without limits.