This week I had to opportunity to share a cup of Starbucks and talk with a new friend who is a missiologist and a leader in the 4/14 Window Movement. We talked about a number of things, but what I want to share here are three challenges facing today's kids that are macro issues affecting children in many nations around the world.
- Identity formation driven by peers and media. Parents are struggling to pass along their values to their children. Kids are orienting themselves to their peers and finding their identity in belonging to a certain peer group or tribe. This is hugely problematic for a number of reasons not the least of which is that the peer group does not love the child unconditionally as a parent would, nor does the peer group have the wisdom the child needs to grow into maturity.
- Dysfunctionality of families. Families are splintered. In some places this has happened through war or AIDS. In other places it has occurred through divorce, but in many corners of the globe families are torn apart and children are experiencing less stability in their home environments.
- Economic disenfranchisement. From young people rioting in the Middle East to the low youth employment rate in the U.S., young people growing up today feel frustrated and unable to achieve the material ideals they dreamed of. July 2011 saw the lowest youth employment rate in the U.S. since records have been kept (which started back in 1948).
Clearly, this is not an exhaustive list. I am curious to know:
- Do you see evidence of these issues affecting children in your community?
- What would you add to this list of macro-challenges facing kids?
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