Failure To Launch: The Gen Z Kids Getting Left Behind
Gen Z kids are not flying out the door with excitement, ready to take on the world like they used to. To be honest with ourselves, is it their fault? If your Gen Zer isn't ready to leave the nest, consider the barriers clipping their wings.
Every child is different, but there are some common reasons why this generation of school leavers may struggle.
If you live remotely and your child attended a friendly, small, safe school where everyone knew each other, leaving home and facing an unknown, daunting world alone may be more terrifying than exciting. In addition, the cost of living in a larger town to attend TAFE or university can be severely prohibitive.
Neurodiversity sensitivities and challenges that have been supported and assisted through high school suddenly become your child's responsibility to manage. It may be overwhelming for them even if you live only a few blocks from a university or college. Neurodiverse youth and those with anxiety and other mental health disabilities can be significantly affected by these challenges. They are suddenly expected to self-manage issues with time blindness, new loud and triggering environments, and decision-making that they previously had assistance with.
Physical and neurological disabilities that limit independence may lead your child to think that they don't have any options. Campuses may only have a suitable environment to navigate with assistance or be physically impossible. If their course of choice means leaving home and embracing a level of independence that they are not ready for, the thought of not bothering can creep in.
Bilingual Gen Z’s, whose second language is English, may feel too vulnerable and unprepared to take on further study in their second language. Fear of failure or humiliation can hold back success for your child if they are not confident without the comfort of parental assistance.
Finally, Gen Z are intelligent kids. They know that the cost of living and their dream of owning their own home has risen wildly. Some may suffer from ‘what's-the-point’ syndrome and feel unmotivated and unwilling to take on responsibility when it seems impossible for them to ever get a foot onto the property ladder.
If your child appears to be at risk of ‘giving up’ or feeling hopeless, there are options out there to consider. Studying from home is becoming a popular option, with certified online courses in Australia now widely available.
They may not be ready to leave the nest but showing them how to feather their own by studying at home and increasing their career options can help them to foster confidence in their future.
