Intergenerational bonds are built day by day and grandparents don’t have to become experts on Gen Z. Here I summarize some points that I often come across in my readings.
They can help foster intergenerational bonds by doing these 5 simple things:
1. Listen before jumping to conclusions
Don’t be too quick to interpret youthful behavior as a flaw or a problem.
2. Ask meaningful questions: “What am I missing about what you’re going through?” is a more productive question than “Why are you like that?”
3. Avoid generalizations
When someone says “young people don’t want to work anymore,” respond: “I think it’s more complicated than that.”
4. Share your experience without imposing it
Say “Here’s what I’ve been through” rather than “Here’s what you should do.”
5. Use your credibility as an elder
A grandparent may sometimes be listened to more by other adults. They can therefore gently step in during family or social conversations to temper judgments about young people.
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Summary tables highlighting key characteristics of the different generations
Source: Sumera Kazi compiled this information into a document containing these three tables on Scribd. The sources are not cited in her document, but some of the data comes from the Pew Research Center.
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