Did you know that children born from 2025 onwards will be the newest generation, Gen Beta? They’ll be growing up with AI and a fully digital world. As a result, parenting for Gen Beta children may be radically different from previous generations.
If we look back at the generational divisions over the past 100 years, we have Gen Y (1981-1996), Gen Z (1997-2009), Gen Alpha (2010-2024), and most recently, Gen Beta (2025-2039), who are said to be growing up in a world that is more open than ever, with regard to technology, creativity, and social diversity.
Parents of Gen Beta children may wonder what Gen Beta is and how parents can prepare for children growing up with advanced technology. This article has the answers.
What is Gen Beta?
Generation Beta or Gen Beta refers to children born between January 1, 2025 and 2039, the next generation after Gen Alpha. They may have parents from Gen Y (Millennials) or Gen Z.
What makes Gen Beta stand out and different from previous generations is that children born this year onwards will never know a world without AI. This generation will live in a world where technology is deeply embedded in every aspect of life. It is also a generation that is experiencing significant demographic change. Social researchers predict that by 2035, Gen Beta children will make up 16% of the global population and may live into the 22nd century.
Gen Beta child characters
This generation of children will have different personalities from previous generations, having grown up with AI, digital technology, and social change. Key characteristics include:
- Connected to the digital world but still authentic : Gen Betas are familiar with AI, the Metaverse, VR, and AR from a young age and are able to balance using technology with expressing themselves in the real world.
- Have a Safe Online Identity: Gen Betas may be born with digital literacy or have had the opportunity to learn about it from a young age. Online safety has become an essential skill for this generation, from protecting personal information and using social media responsibly.
- Open-minded to diversity: Gen Betas are more accepting of diversity because they have had the opportunity to see a wider world than previous generations. Gen Beta children grow up in a society that is open to culture, religion, gender, and ideas, which allows them to understand and respect people’s differences better.
- Environmentally and Sustainably Aware: Although Gen Beta children were born into a time of extreme technological advancement, the environment and nature are in crisis. Gen Beta is therefore a generation that prioritizes global warming and environmental conservation.
- Adaptable and flexible: Gen Beta will grow up in an era where everything changes rapidly, whether it’s the climate, politics, society, or technology. This will shape this generation to be flexible, adaptable, and have good problem-solving skills.
- More Mental Health Awareness: As Millennials and Gen Z become more open about mental health, Gen Beta will also be influenced, making them a generation with higher emotional intelligence, better understanding of their own feelings and those of those around them, and more easily accessible to mental health resources than ever before.
6 important skills that Gen Beta children must have
1. Critical Thinking: Think analytically and know how to ask questions.
Gen Beta will grow up in an era where vast amounts of information are at their fingertips. Therefore, critical thinking skills are essential to distinguish truth from false news and dare to question what they see or hear. They must not just accept information casually, but must also learn to think further and see the big picture.
2. Adaptability: Good at adapting and ready to learn new things.
Technology and the rapidly changing world make adaptability a crucial skill for today’s children. They must constantly learn new things, be open to change, not be afraid of trial and error, and confidently keep pace with global trends.
In an increasingly connected world, EQ has become an essential skill. Gen Betas need to be able to manage their own emotions, understand others’ feelings, and build positive relationships, both in real life and online.
4. Digital Literacy: Use technology to your advantage and safely.
Technology will be a part of this generation’s lives from birth. Digital literacy helps Gen Beta use technology effectively, access information wisely, and protect themselves from online threats.
5. Collaboration: Work as a team and create international cooperation.
Working with people of diverse perspectives and cultures will become second nature for Gen Betas. Teamwork, listening to others’ perspectives, and building collaboration are essential skills for solving global problems.
6. Sustainability Awareness: Caring about the environment and sustainability.
Generation Beta children will grow up amidst increasingly severe environmental problems, so they are more aware of sustainability, understand the impact of their own behavior, and work together to create a more environmentally friendly future.
How should parents of Gen Beta children adapt?
Being a parent of a Gen Beta child isn’t easy, as their world is filled with information and technology that’s constantly evolving. Therefore, parents must learn and adapt to keep up with the changing world. Being a parent of a Gen Beta child isn’t just about raising them, it’s about learning and growing together, because the world their child is about to grow up in is completely different from the world they once knew.
Parents today need to open their minds and let go of some old beliefs, as what was once correct in the past may no longer be appropriate in this modern era. For example, authoritarian parenting may not work for children growing up in a world that encourages questioning and analytical thinking. Parents must therefore learn how to communicate with their children in a more understanding and respectful manner.
Another key aspect is adapting to technology, as Gen Beta children will be born into an era where AI and the digital world are commonplace. Rejecting technology won’t help parents better understand their children, but learning alongside them will foster understanding and foster stronger relationships. Therefore, parents must grow alongside their children, not just teaching them, but also being open to new perspectives, giving themselves opportunities to experiment, adapt, and change their thinking. They also need to accept that there’s no set formula for parenting; everything is about learning together in an ever-changing world.
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How to raise Gen Beta children
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| 1. Spend time with your child in the real world. |
Don’t let technology be your babysitter; build relationships through daily activities. |
| 2. Create discipline in using technology. |
Set screen time rules and teach online safety. |
| 3. Encourage your child to learn through Active Learning. |
Promote questioning, research, and analytical thinking. |
| 4. Develop social skills |
Help your child gain off-screen experiences, such as playing sports and working as a team. |
| 5. Cultivate empathy. |
Teach your children to understand diversity and accept differences. |
| 6. Let your child try and make mistakes. |
Don’t be overprotective. Let your child learn from their failures. |
| 7. Prepare for the future |
Teach your children the skills they need in a rapidly changing world, such as lifelong learning. |
In fact, the key to raising Gen Beta children remains the same: giving time and building strong relationships, especially during the first three years of life, which form the foundation for a child’s development. But what’s new in this era is that parents must adapt to keep up with technology, as Gen Beta children will grow up in the digital world. If parents don’t understand technology, they may not be able to keep up with their children and be unable to fully protect them.
However, no matter how advanced technology becomes, the best protection for children of all generations is a strong bond between parents and children. Love, understanding, and bonding from an early age will provide them with the protection they need to thrive in an ever-changing world.
Republished with permission from theAsianParent Thailand
