You hear it all the time: “Kids today are different.” Some adults roll their eyes at the younger generation, claiming they’re entitled, fragile, or lacking discipline. But is that really the case? The truth is, kids haven’t changed — adults have changed.

It’s easy to blame the youth for everything wrong with today’s world. But the reality is that children remain fundamentally the same: curious, impressionable, and in need of guidance. What has shifted is the way adults interact with and raise them.

The Real Shift: Adult Expectations

Children don’t suddenly become lazy or unmotivated on their own. These behaviors are often the result of the environment adults create for them. Over time, society has softened its expectations of young people. Many adults now demand less from kids — less responsibility, less independence, and less resilience.

Instead of encouraging perseverance, problem-solving, or grit, we often rush in to make life easier for them. We shield them from discomfort, frustration, and even failure — the very things that once built character in earlier generations.

We’re Making It Easier, Not Better

This change isn’t rooted in malice. In many cases, adults want to protect children from the difficulties they faced themselves. But by stepping in too often, we rob children of the chance to grow. Making life easier doesn’t mean we’re making it better. It often just delays the development of coping skills that kids will desperately need later in life.

While past generations may have walked to school, worked part-time jobs, or taken care of younger siblings, today’s youth are often insulated from similar experiences. That insulation doesn’t stem from kids resisting responsibility — it stems from adults removing it.

The Blame Is Misplaced

When grown-ups say, “Kids these days just don’t get it,” they should ask themselves: Did we ever show them? Did we expect it from them? Did we hold them accountable? More often than not, the answer is no.

We must recognize that the generational shift is not in the children themselves but in how we, as adults, approach raising them. We’ve changed our methods, relaxed our expectations, and adjusted the standards we once upheld.

A Call for Reflection

It’s time to stop blaming children and start reflecting on our role as mentors, parents, and educators. If kids seem different today, maybe it’s because we’ve failed to lead them the way previous generations led us.

Children don’t know what they haven’t been taught. They’re still learning, still watching, and still absorbing the world around them. The question is: What kind of example are we setting?