The term “generation gap” refers to the psychological difference between the adults and the young generation, the difference in perspectives and beliefs when it comes to things like success, love, life and so on.

Due to this, there is always a division between the young and the old. To put it simply, the term “you won’t get it” coming from the mouth of a youngster to a parent is the definition of a generation gap.

Having a generation gap has been a part of all our lives, we have all heard the “When I was your age…” line before some unrealistic expectation is blurted out. You know what I mean, for example: “When I was your age, I had one pencil that I used throughout my school life” or “When I was your age I made breakfast for the entire family.” There are just a few statements children today get to hear from their parents, statements like these lead to the infamous “eye roll” in return from the children.

But this gap between today’s youth and the adults is much broader than any generation before, so why do parents feel disconnected with their children today and have a harder time understanding them than in any other time in history?

Pressure

The pressure to fit in, being accepted, sexual orientations, peer pressure, an active social media presence, excel in academics while also being a social and outgoing individual. There is so much competition now that teens are more stressed than ever. The constant effort to fit in has led to the ever-rising risk of depression, anxiety and confusion.

But what has so drastically changed over the generations?

The parental problem

Parenting has also taken a different turn over the years, the child is no longer “the centre of their world.” The same problem lies here, the busy schedules, the never-ending work hours, the need to maintain a social life BETWEEN the never-ending work hours while also being an active member of the virtual community (Yes, I’m referring to Facebook and all the other social media platforms that all of us scroll through aimlessly during the day).

And not just the parents but even children and young adults today are equally busy, with excessive amount of schoolwork, extra-curricular activities, maintaining an active presence both online and offline and also have “me time” during the day, it has become almost impossible for modern families to have consistent quality time with each other.

Technology doesn’t help

Let’s be honest, the one thing that the adults and children of today have in common is their addiction to the digital world, whether it is smartphones, tabs, laptops or any other device.  Technology has further distanced us from one another, it is more important to share good news on Facebook than sharing it with your family – family time today consist of families sitting on their phones, checking up on what their friends are doing rather than checking up on each other.

So what should be done? There is a very high chance your children need your advice, especially during their crucial teen years but do not feel comfortable enough to talk to you about it because of how you may react or maybe they think you just “won’t get it.”

This gap between the adults of today and the children will only get wider and it will only get harder for us to understand each other, communication is key. Let your children know that their opinions may differ from yours but they do matter, gain the trust of your child so they feel comfortable to come to you when things get hard, the teens of today are going through a lot more than you can imagine and it is crucial to bridge the gap and help them out.

The ‘Wavelength’ workshop curated by InnerApps is designed to bridge this gap.  This series of experiential workshops address the entire Eco-system of the child – Teachers, parents and the children themselves.  This integrated approach has seen some great results already in schools across Delhi and Mumbai.

For more details, please visit www.xperentia.com/innerapps.

By Taarini. U – Trainee Facilitator at Xperentia Consulting