Understanding this era’s unique challenges and opportunities is critical for shaping a balanced, adaptive, and emotionally resilient generation.
As we enter the era of ‘Generation Beta’— babies born after 2025 — parents and educators are confronted with an unprecedented challenge: raising children in a world seamlessly integrated with artificial intelligence (AI), automation, and digital ecosystems. Gen Beta, who can also be referred to as second-generation digital natives, will grow up in an environment where screens, virtual assistants, and AI-driven learning tools are not accessories but indispensable to their daily lives. Understanding this new era’s unique challenges and opportunities is critical for shaping a balanced, adaptive, and emotionally resilient generation.
Akanksha Pandey
Akanksha Pandey, a Bengaluru-based clinical psychologist, Head-School Mental Health program & Co-founder of Compathy Health, spoke with PW’s Kiran Balimane, about the major challenges and opportunities of the new digital era, and the role of parents in equipping Gen Beta with the skills to succeed in the AI-driven new world order.
Generation Beta strengths
“Gen Beta children possess unique strengths because of early exposure to technology. They are likely to develop advanced problem-solving skills, digital adaptability, and a natural inclination for innovation. Their ability to process information quickly, work with AI-assisted tools, and navigate virtual and real-world interactions seamlessly will give them an advantage in several fields. Additionally, with proper guidance, they can transform into emotionally intelligent individuals who leverage technology for societal progress.
Balancing the impact of technology on children’s development
While technology has advantages, overexposure in early years adversely impacts children’s cognitive and social development. Parents need to strike the right balance between screen time and real-world education by encouraging outdoor play, sensory activities, and people-to-people interaction.
Learning and schooling
Traditional schooling pedagogies will not satisfy and suffice for Gen Beta. They will require AI-driven personalized learning platforms to enable Gen Beta to learn at their own pace while receiving real-time feedback to adapt learning styles. Schools will need to create hybrid models, blending digital and experiential learning, while also promoting critical thinking, creativity, and emotional intelligence to complement AI-driven knowledge acquisition. Moreover, socio-emotional learning (SEL) must be a core component of education, ensuring children develop self-awareness, empathy, and interpersonal skills while developing academic and technology competencies.
Parenting in the AI age
Parenting styles must evolve to accommodate the reality of AI-infused childhoods. Instead of shielding children from technology, parents should become digital mentors, teaching them about ethical AI usage, online safety, and the importance of developing humanitarian empathy in an automated world.
Digital literacy and emotional intelligence
While Gen Beta children will intuitively interact with AI-powered devices, they will require guidance to develop emotional intelligence, empathy, and problem-solving skills. Teach them to differentiate between real and virtual interaction. Integrate digital literacy, including understanding misinformation, cybersecurity, and ethical AI usage, in school curriculums.
Mental health well-being
With incremental reliance on digital connect, anxiety about children’s social isolation, reduced attention spans, and digital addiction is rising. Parents and educators need to actively incorporate mindfulness practices, creative expression, and community engagement to ensure children develop resilience and self-regulation.
Apply the ‘Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction Theory’ to shape effective parenting, schooling, and teaching strategies. Essentials of this theory:
- Autonomy. Provide choice in education and parenting, allowing children to engage with technology creatively rather than becoming passive consumers.
- Competence. Encourage problem-solving, creativity, and mastery of AI-driven tools to develop their confidence.
- Relatedness. Prioritize real-world relationships, emotional intelligence training, and collaborative learning experiences to ensure children don’t become overly dependent on digital interactions.
Raising Gen Beta children presents opportunities and challenges. By striking a balance between new and traditional parenting values, ensuring adaptive education, and developing emotional intelligence together with digital literacy, parents and educators can nurture a tech-savvy yet emotionally grounded generation.
