Most would agree with the widespread belief that children are our future. The younger generation will rise to become society’s newest leaders, innovating, improving, calling the shots on crucial decisions, etc. Well, let’s consider the current batch of upcoming young people; millennials and Gen. Z’ers.  

The term ‘millennial’ can mean different time periods, depending on who you ask, but it generally applies to those born in the 1980’s-1990’s. Millennials seem to be the perfect package, a generation that has grown up with technology, achieving high AP course pass rates and acquiring college degrees in droves.[i] We’re counting on these people to step up and change the world? Sounds pretty great.

But there’s a big gap in this shining picture of today’s young people. They’re so “book-smart, they’ve neglected the importance of being “street-smart.”People that can program a computer or puzzle out a chemistry equation can’t even do tasks like clean windows or handle laundry. Believe it or not, most young adults of today don’t know basic life skills. A.k.a “adulting.”

The statistics are mind-boggling. A study by Poundland, a British store chain, claims that as of 2016, 77% of millennials did not know how to fix a bike tire puncture, and 37% couldn’t bake a cake. 23% admitted to not knowing how to work a washing machine, and 43% couldn’t set up a WiFi router.[ii]A study at the University of Missouri claimed that out of 502 women, the Baby Boomers out of the bunch had significantly more knowledge on basic skills like doing laundry and sewing, with millennials knowing the least.[iii] This is not only embarrassing, but this lack of ability decreases independence and self-sufficiency.

It’s not only millennials that are coming under scrutiny, it’s the following generation known as Gen. Z. Generation Z is comprised of babies born from 1995 to the early 2000’s.[iv] People in Generation Z are a hugely important variable in how businesses and other establishments function in the future. But since this generation is still in the process of becoming adults and entering the workforce, they are a large unknown factor. These two demographic groups should be taught the basics, to give millennials (better late than never) and Gen. Z’ers the necessary experience to survive in life and to raise awareness that this is even a problem.  

Ironically, one of the more obvious solutions is to bring back a course no one remembers anymore: Home Economics. Since its creation in the early 1900’s, it was a widely taken class in schools across the country, with even esteemed colleges such as Cornell, University of Chicago, and NYU offering Home Ec. departments.[v] Generally, students were taught to cook, sew, manage a budget, shop efficiently, etc.[vi] However, in the past few decades, fewer schools have been requiring or even offering a Home Economics class, and now only three states require it to be taken before college.[vii]

Though this would be ideal, convincing the masses that such a class is necessary, as well as forking over extra money to fund it, would likely be difficult. Additionally, many kids are already so academically ambitious, implementing a required program where one learns mundane tasks could seem pointless. From a teenager’s perspective, why would one waste time figuring out how to keep a home when other more pressing programs could be taken instead, such as how to ace an SAT/ACT?

Fortunately, other, more modern solutions are taking place across the country. “Life skills camps” are popping up, such as SuperCamp, a class designed to relay the fundamental life skills to students in addition to reading and writing.[viii] Classes such as these take place during the summer and are their own companies, so while they may work with public schools, the schools themselves do not need to completely shoulder the burden of teaching this type of class themselves. Another similar course, the Adulting School in Portland, Maine, also focuses on teaching young adults how to learn basic skills.[ix] If these programs were advertised more often and expanded upon, that would do a great deal to raise awareness that young people are struggling to do these things as well as help this age group.

If all else fails, there is always the Internet.  The most feasible solution would be to simply look it up. As a generation who is constantly on devices, it would be so easy to google ‘how to fold a fitted bedsheet’ or find a Youtube tutorial on how to sew a button back on. And if the Internet crashes, that’s what other experienced people or parents are for.

Viable solutions are well within reach. It’s unreasonable to think the “smartest” generation is also arguably the most stupid. With a few simple changes to help teach teens and millennials life skills, we can expect young people to blaze on and change the world while also knowing how to cook dinner along the way.