Generation Alpha
Who they are and why it matters.
Generation Alpha
Generation Alpha are the children born between 2010 and 2024. Some researchers will flex a year or two on either side of those dates. When you think about "kids today" this is probably who you have in mind.
When conversing about Gen Alpha, people often ask me who gets to decide the name of a generation or when a new generation is defined as a category. Names for generations emerge through a consensus-driven process involving marketers, journalists, and social researchers. Often the title given is based on major cultural, technological, or social events. The name given to Generation Alpha was selected by Australian social researcher Mark McCrindle, using the Greek alphabet to denote a new era.
.jpg)
Gen Alpha is not just the future of the church, they are an essential part of the church today.
According to the United Nation’s World Population Report, Gen alpha is estimated to be the largest generation globally, with over 2 billion young people worldwide.
Gen Alpha kiddos are not just influenced by technology, they are influencing it.
Tech giants are marketing to kids as media consumers. Some of the most popular social media accounts are created by members of generation alpha.
Technology means news travels fast, trends come and go quickly, and influences are global. Kids are connected in ways we couldn’t have imagined even ten years ago.
Researchers are increasingly addressing how technology is reshaping Generation Alpha, particularly regarding their shrinking attention spans. Knowing that kids have short attention spans means that most churches are working to find strategies that work for kids with shorter attention span in mind. Those that have continued to use the strategies that have been used for decades are often expressing frustration or concern related to student behavior. This challenge highlights the need for careful attention to the pace of activities and lessons for kids. When a program includes too much wait time, kids can lose focus. Classroom management and planning matter more than ever.
The issue of technology is not just about what children are exposed to in technology, but also about what they miss out on when they are spending time with a screen. Time is valuable, especially in the critical development years that make up a childhood. Kids need time to play, rest, learn, grow, be outside, process their emotions, connect with adults, connect with peers, and so much more. Screen time can also be used as a tool for soothing or calming, which keeps children from finding healthy ways to handle big feelings.
A bright spot is that many kids are choosing technology that allows them to connect with friends, use their creativity, or learn new things. They are aware of the dangers of technology in ways previous generations hadn’t considered.
Churches, and particularly children's ministry staff, often face challenging decisions related to the use of technology in ministry. Questions about which technology should be used can be tricky, as change happens quickly. Sometimes it seems as though a policy is developed and approved just as it becomes obsolete due to advances in technology. In addition to being aware of how much time kids are spending with screens, there is potential for the church to impact the content on those screens.
What they believe is an important part of who they are.
Research indicates that Generation Alpha is particularly spiritually open. . They are willing to share their beliefs and enjoy conversation with peers.
This is an opportunity for the church and for Christian people to share the good news of Jesus with young people. They are open and frequently willing to engage in authentic conversation.That’s good news for the church!
Today’s kids need to understand why they believe what they believe and be able to recognize the difference between their own faith and the practices of others.
One of the best ways to help kids learn to articulate their beliefs and evaluate opportunities is to give them chances to practice those skills. Kids who engage in good conversations with peers and adults are uniquely prepared for higher level thinking on matters of faith and religion. Including strong discussion questions and setting aside time for conversation makes children’s ministry more effective.
Connection is Critical
Perhaps one of the greatest opportunities for Children’s Ministry professionals to explore is Generation Alpha’s need for community.
Children also need connection with their peers, their parents, and caring adults across generations. When Kirk describes Generation Alpha, it paints a picture that matches what I’ve seen. “They want to come in. They want relationships. They are dragging their parents to church.”
Children in Generation Alpha seek authenticity in media and in relationships. They don’t just enjoy time with others. They need it and thrive in it.
A healthy church is the ideal opportunity for children to have healthy relationships. Children can make friends, eat, read, play, learn, discuss, listen, and worship in the company of others.
For a generation that craves connection, community, and authenticity, being introduced to the Savior of the World as their best friend is nothing short of a miracle.
Change is Part of Life for Gen Alpha
For kids in Generation Alpha, the cliché about the change being the only constant in life holds very true. Whether it is technology, school, the covid pandemic, friendships, family makeup, or just the changes that come with growing up, all kids experience change.
For the church, this means consistency matters. When kids know what to expect, who they will see, where they will go, and what they will do at church, it matters. More importantly, the amazing consistency offered in a child’s faith journey is a special gift for this generation. They recognize the difference between the change of the world and the consistency of their Savior. They notice the contrast between the constant shifting of people’s moods and the steadiness of God. The appreciate the way that God is always with them. It isn’t easy to be a kid and the Holy Spirit is working in their hearts in beautiful ways.
Multi-Sensory Activities Work
The types of activities used in Children’s Ministry are important. Children learn best by doing things, putting themselves in other people's shoes or role playing, exploring a topic with all of their senses, or using music and the arts. That is how their brains are wired, and also how they are accustomed to exploring new information. While interpreting the Bible is a far more in depth and meaningful task than learning or exploring new information, it has enough similarities that these characteristics of kids seem to hold some weight in the topic of interpreting the Bible with children and pursuing discipleship together.
A multi-sensory approach is one that fits well with what is known about Generation Alpha and how they are most likely to learn, grow, and change. Neuroscience supports the idea that when learners engage their senses, a cascade of events happen within the brain, enhancing learning and creating connections.
Quoting the book, 12 Brain/ Mind Learning Principles in Action, “The human brain learns through experience. The brain’s first contact with the world is through the senses. So learning must engage our senses of sight, hearing, smell, touch, and movement (to name a few).”
Children need opportunities to connect what they are learning with what they already know. In this way, building on what a child experiences in life as well as what they’ve previously learned helps to make the new information accessible and long lasting. “The brain learns by making connections between what is experienced and what that experience means to the learner.” “Ultimately the brain needs to ‘own’ the learning by having the learner do something with what has been learned.” (Cain 2005, 5)
In our church, the children are offered an opportunity to join their peers for open play time for the 30 minutes leading up to our Wednesday classes. I can’t put into words how valuable this time has become. Children are more able to be vulnerable and dig deep in discussion when they are in class with friends and those friendships are strengthened as kids play together, building with blocks, playing a board game, pretending to be chefs or veterinarians, or shooting hoops. They are building relationships that may last their whole lives and it all starts with play. This 30 minutes gives kids the time, space, and support they needed to build friendships.
Play is also important for kids in their learning. Children need to practice what they are learning and explore it in ways that work for them. They need to be able to build Jericho’s wall and knock it down, serve the last supper to their dolls, and rock baby Jesus, placing him gently in the manger. You might be amazed at how sacred some of these moments of play become when children are given the opportunity to explore independently and with peers.
Give them the Bible!
For a variety of reasons including popular parenting styles, access to answers and information through technology, modeling of independence by popular tv and social media personalities, and opportunities for leadership in school and extracurriculars, the youth that make up generation alpha are more independent in their thinking than previous generations.
“With the abundance of variety that exists today when it comes to things like food or content, we can see that this new wave of young people is much more decisive and independent in their choices. In fact, 48% say that being treated their age is important to them. “
Kids in generation alpha want their thinking to be heard and respected.
For me, this especially highlights the need for children to have access to the Bible. Put it in their hands. Teach them how to find what they are looking for. In the focus groups, one topic that the students felt strongly about was the importance of kids having their very own Bible. In our church, Bibles are gifted to children in third grade. Many kids have a Bible before that age, but in third grade the church invites children to come to the front of a service for prayer and to be given a Bible. Some kids come after the service to get their Bible as well since being up front can feel uncomfortable for some children. Repeatedly, children in the focus group commented on how momentous it felt to open their Bible and read it for themselves. They value Bible reading and they mentioned seeing their parents with a Bible in hand as well.
Generation Alpha
