Formerly known as, Rug-rats, Lino-lizards, Ankle-biters, Curtain-climbers and Nose-miners to name a few, Gen-Z are now adolescents, leaving those endearing titles to the following generation.
Gen Z-ers…Order yours now -while they still know everything!
“Pantry Raiders” is an apt title. The Pandemic “Panic-buying” and Nordic pillaging and plundering of the coast of England seem downright civilised when compared to a swarm of hungry adolescents within striking range (10 metres or less) of a pantry or refrigerator.
Empirical observation suggests that 10 Metres seems to be a significant distance. Mysteriously, if they are located any further from the food source and they’ll reach for UberEats or journey to the local convenience store instead…
I heard something a couple of days ago that left me incredulous…
A proclamation I never thought I’d hear from the speaker..
“I can’t do video games all day!!”
..This, from my 19 yrs.-old son whom, prior to “social distancing” took every available opportunity (and created some that weren’t) to do just that!
I recall an urban legend from my youth that told the story of a parent (whom regularly smoked) wishing to discourage their tobacco-infatuated offspring (go figure!) by furnishing a packet of full-strength cigarettes and standing by whilst the unfortunate teenager chain-smoked the entire contents.
Whilst we hope that increased awareness of learned behaviour, role-modelling and the prospect of an unexpected visit from Child Protection Services escorted by the Police would have “put paid” to that approach today, via a remarkably similar process and an indirect impact of the current outbreak, the desensitisation of my son to the novelty and appeal of “screen time”, is a phenomenon.
I am writing from the perspective of my own experience however, I’d be surprised if there weren’t similar stories out there..
Nevertheless, I’ll claim it as a positive outcome and hope that once “the covers come off” it persists….
The question is..
What takes its place?
I suspect that, in time I’ll discover a lot more about the answers than I ever wanted to know….
Meanwhile, for those of us searching for practical and innovative ideas to manage the working-at-home environment thereby reducing the likelihood of “Going Postal”, here’s a few simple examples:
Or..
Here’s something a little less draconian:
According to the Edward de Bono playbook, your desk goes inside the playpen….
Have a great weekend.