The only generation to be born in 21st century offers exciting future

They’re the first generation wholly born in the 21st century — and that’s not all that will distinguish Generation Alpha from the rest of us.

IT’S nearly a new decade, and it’s time to turn attention to an emerging league of important Queenslanders.

Generation Alpha is the first generation to be wholly born in the 21st century, and in just five years, when the last is born, it will be the biggest generation ever.

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There will be just under six million of them in the country and how they are taught to lead is vital for the future of the state.

“Alpha kids are the first generation to all be born this century and many of them will see the 22nd century,” social demographer Mark McCrindle told The Sunday Mail.

Myles Bogan, 4, and Corey Murrell, 5. Picture: Nigel Hallett

The first Alphas were born in 2010 and they will all be born by 2025.

“What they have to offer is exciting, and this decade is an important part of preparing them for the future.

“By the end of the 2020s they will be moving into adulthood, the workforce and households — ready or not.”

This flood of bright-eyed Alphas will have more material belongings than anyone before. They will be the most clued into technology, will stay in education longer and start their earnings later.

Generation Alpha was born with the ipad and instagram. They are truly the screen generation but while they may have top-level digital literacy their attention spans and social skills will not necessarily be top notch.

When it comes to leadership the Alphas will have be resilient and experts at adapting to change.

Levi Holder, 4, and Travis Cooper, 5. Picture: Nigel Hallett

“We’ve got more diverse communities, workplaces, teams and customer bases, in terms of cultural, gender and generational diversity. These leaders will have to not just understand diversity but see it as an asset that there is strength in diversity,” Mr McCrindle said.

“The challenge for educators is that what worked for previous generations will not necessarily work for the Alphas. Teachers must engage with them as things are today in the 21st century not as they have been in the past,” he said.

Veteran Queensland early learning educator Lucy Cook, who is owner of many child care centres in the state, says this emerging generation already have a great many talents.

“They are the most technologically literate to ever walk this Earth. So in future we will need to be flexible and adaptive to cope with their curious minds. They are incredibly quick thinking and used to receiving information and answers in an instant,” Ms Cook said.

“We already have the national ELLA language program and there is now a similar STEM program being trialled which are app-based and involve learning via ipads. This generation will need to be creative and problem solve from multiple perspectives. These skills will prepare them for the jobs they will eventually do that currently don’t exist,” she said.

Toby Ivey, 4, Kyron Coombes, 4, Willow Gallagher, 5 and Hannah Bicknell, 4. Picture: Nigel Hallett

The educator says that teamwork will play a big part in the lives of Gen Alpha.

“They will need to be taught in learning persistence. They are so used to immediacy they can get frustrated when they have to work to solve a problem,” she said.

Excessive screen time will be a problem and Gen Alpha will need to be taught to find a balance and head outdoors.

“At Amaze we have found they are seeking an outdoor environment similar to the one we knew as kids, a much more back to nature approach, less cotton wooling, more risky play,” Ms Cook said.

“Mental health for this generation will be highly prioritised and monitored. We are now teaching about physical and mental health and well-being,” she said.

The teacher says she is concerned that the art of cooking is dying and food can be delivered in a flash.

“I hope parents and teachers will try to encourage cooking to remain as one of life’s necessities. Teaching kids the links between farm to table is so important,” she said.

Levi Horvath, 4, and Sophia Ather, 5. Picture: Nigel Hallett

The super powers of Gen Alpha

* Shape social media landscape

* Popular culture influencers

* Big consumers

* Materially endowed

* Digitally savvy

* Will adapt to change

* Will study longer

* Quick thinking

* Will live longer