America’s Children and Young Adults – The Expectations and Experiences of a Generation

1. America’s Children and Young Adults – The Expectations and Experiences of a Generation Miller/Cook & Associates, Inc.

2. Generational Cohorts • The people we are born with, travel through life with, and experience critical events with at the time of late adolescence and early adulthood. • At the heart of the cohort group concept is the hypothesis that events that are happening when we are coming of age imprint core values.

3. A generational glossary

4. Generation X Now 31-42 Years of Age The Parents of 40 million American Children

5. In the words of Kurt Cobain • “Here we are now, entertain us / I feel stupid and contagious”

6. Generation X childhood experiences • The first generation with large numbers raised in broken homes • 1/3 have divorced parents (compared with 13% of baby-boomers) • Latchkey Children • 50% had working mothers

7. Now parents themselves • U.S. men now marry for the first time at a median age of 27 (up from 22 in 1960) • U.S. women now marry for the fist time at a median age of 25 (up from 20 in 1960) • Generation X is now raising more than half of all children under 18 in the United States (40 million children)

8. Life Priorities of Gen X Parents • Gen X moms and dads tend to be homebodies - they are willing to sacrifice one spouse's income to have a parent at home with the kids. • Sometimes they choose arrangements, such as each spouse working a part-time job, that ensure that both parents get time with the children.

9. Research consistently reports that… • 67 percent of Xer moms said they planned to do a better job of raising their children than the generation before them. • For the first time in decades, fewer women are returning to the workforce in the first year after giving birth. • 25% of Generation X moms spend 12 hours-plus a day on child rearing, more than double the time spent by baby-boomer moms. • Roughly half of Gen-X fathers devote three to six hours a day to domesticity; only 39 percent of baby-boomer dads could say the same.

10. And, there’s more… • The job characteristic most often ranked as very important by men between the ages of 21-39 is “having a work schedule which allows me to spend time with my family” (Radcliffe Public Policy Center) • Some 70% of the Public Policy Center’s male respondents wanted to spend more time with their families and were willing to sacrifice pay to do so.

11. Yet, in other substantive ways, Generation X has not changed • Traits of independence, resilience, and adaptability remain. • Expect immediate and ongoing feedback • Equally comfortable giving feedback to others

12. It is no surprise that there is no single guru for Generation X parenting • Lactation Consultants • Mother’s Groups • Websites • Parenting Centers • Books • Blogs • Father’s Groups

13. Substantive Change Private Schools – at all levels of the educational pipeline – are no longer in control of the conversation(s) of prospective or current students and family members

14. Yet, as educators, we want Generation X parents to work with us… • Start by informing them of your expectations • Provide explanation of how their child’s progress will be measured • Assure parents that you are committed to helping them learn the skills they will need to effectively partner with you (and with their child) • They will respond best to feedback and suggestions!

15. Meet Generation Next (18-30 years of age) • They use technology and the internet to connect with people in new and distinctive ways. • Text messaging, instant messaging, and email keep them in constant contact with friends.

16. The “Look At Me” generation • Social networking sites are normative • Four-in-ten have created a personal profile online

17. A quick summary – The Millennials • Gravitate toward group activity • Identify with their parents’ values and feel close to their parents • Spend more time doing homework and housework and less time watching TV than previous generations • Believe it’s “cool to be smart” • Are fascinated by new technologies • Are racially and ethnically diverse • Often (one in five) have at least one immigrant parent

18. These students exhibit distinct learning styles tending toward • Teamwork • Experiential activities • Structure • Use of Technology

19. Their strengths include • Multi-tasking • Goal Orientation • Positive Attitudes • Collaboration

20. Remember the substantive change?

21. Computers aren’t technology • Students have never known life without computers and the Internet • To them, the computer is not a technology - it is an assumed part of life (Oblinger, 2006). • Nintendo logic prevails – this trail and error approach to solving problems is not the rule-based logic valued by earlier generations. • “I tried, I failed, but I learned --- by failing.”

22. 0:00.60 Time per Session Students Spend on College Websites Source: Target X

23. 1:53.12 Time per Session Students Spend on MySpace.com Source: Target X

24. Most Used Tools of Communication

25. Doing is more important than knowing • Knowledge is no longer perceived to be the ultimate goal, especially in light of the half-life of information. • Results and actions are considered more important than the accumulation of facts.

26. Zero-tolerance for delays • They have grown up in a customer-service culture • Strong demand for immediacy • 24-7 service expected to be available in a variety of modes (web, phone, in person) • Virtual Information Stations

27. What matters to parents?(Some Baby-Boomers but Generation X is an emerging majority)

28. Most important college attributes for parents of college-bound students (Stamats, 2004)

29. Most important college attributes for parents of college-bound students (Stamats, 2004)

30. While your child is in college, do you expect to…(Percent saying yes, Stamats, 2004)

31. While your child is in college, do you expect to…(Percent saying yes, Stamats, 2004)

32. While your child is in college, do you expect to…(Percent saying yes, Stamats, 2004)

33. High School Students Source: State of Our Nation’s Youth, 2006 10% of respondents were private school enrollees

34. 95% Percentage of high school students with internet access Source: Horatio Alger Association

35. 90% Age 13-21 That Regularly Use Instant Messaging Source: Target X

36. 15-17 Girls this Age Are “Power Communicators Online”

37. Students live with: Mother Father Both Parents 1 Parent 90% 69% 61% 36%

38. One Wish… • More time spent together with family 46% • More money to buy things 27% • A bigger house 14% • More time in spiritual pursuits 7%

39. Define a “good meal” • Home-cooked 71% • Sit-down restaurant 20% • Fast-food restaurant 4% • Take-out food at home 4%

40. Student Role Model Choices

41. America’s high school students want more from their high schools and want their high schools to want more from them. Schools are not doing enough to prevent: Bullying on school grounds 33% Weapons on school grounds 24% Gang activity on school grounds 22% Trespassers from getting on school grounds 21%

42. If your high school demanded more of students, set higher standards, and raised expectations, would you work harder? Yes, would work harder No, would not work harder 88% 11%

43. 62% Percentage of high school students who say they are dealing with at least one major problem in their lives Source: Horatio Alger Association

44. Facing Challenges and Fitting In Major Problem Minor Problem Pressure to get good grades 41% 39% Pressure to look a certain way 17% 34% Family Pressures 17% 40% Financial Pressures 18% 36% Loneliness/Feeling Left Out 11% 31%

45. What does this suggest? • Parents, at all levels, will continue to actively partner/shelter/encourage their children. • They regard school teachers, faculty, and administrations as professionals with whom they should engage. • Helicopters have radar

46. For students • Engagement, Collaboration, and Interaction are more critical than ever at all levels of education. • Research suggests that today’s learners may be neurologically pre-disposed to respond best to multi-modal stimulation (engaging vision, audition, motor, and tactical stimulation) delivered at higher rates.

47. For students • As parents “outsource” to specialists, they and their students will expect the same professional assessment and assistance from school professionals (for themselves and for their students). • Expect rates of reinforcement 10 times higher than most schools deliver

48. For educators • Structure remains important at all levels of education. • Multi-modal delivery systems integrating technology with other forms of experiential learning will be preferred. • Your school’s experience must be more than an academic experience. • “Special children” want to attend special institutions, where those children can play special roles. • Stressing your institution’s traditions, high standards, and involvement in national life is important in appealing both to students and to their parents.

49. Thank You! • Questions? • Additional information regarding Working with Generation X parents will be shared at this morning’s workshop.