Dave Boden’s new book helps Christian families and church leaders understand the challenges and opportunities facing Gen Alpha, blending biblical wisdom with practical advice for walking with young people in a digital world
Wouldn’t it be great if Christian parents, and others ministering with the new generation of teenagers we have amongst us today, had a short but pithy guide to their task? A guide that gave a quick summary of the main characteristics of the generation – both good and bad – and some of the ways in which we could adjust our behaviours to help them walk with Jesus?
Well, that guide is here.
Dave Boden’s Raising Gen Alpha has just been published and is definitely worth the price.
The heart of the book is to understand “Gen Alpha’s traits and trends so we can better support their transition to adulthood.” But that isn’t simply into any old adulthood it is into a mature walk with Jesus.
this book is a clarion call for us not merely to journey alongside Gen A but to point them to Jesus the source of all truth and wisdom
Books on emerging generations can often be either quite negative and pessimistic or overly positive and optimistic. Raising Gen Alpha does a good job of walking a line between these two extremes. Dave doesn’t duck any of the really difficult issues faced by teenagers today, but he does seek to see the positives and the opportunities that lie in front us anyone working with them.
The contents page won’t surprise most of you. Five main chapters cover Gen Alpha as:
- Anxious minded
- A leading influence
- Pandemic impacted
- Hyperconnected
- AI shaped
But each chapter is worth the read as Dave moves through a summary of that particular issue into biblical reflection and then onto practical ideas of how to adjust our attitudes and practices accordingly.
In a world where often people want easy answers, you’ll also find a helpful balance and nuance here
Comment and analysis is supported with up-to-date research but it’s worn lightly so you’re unlikely to be overwhelmed by stats and reports (it’s all there in footnotes if you want to follow anything up).
In a world where often people want easy answers, you’ll also find a helpful balance and nuance here too. There is discussion of Gen Alpha’s desire for diversity, justice and inclusion but also an acknowledgement of the possibility of this flipping over into cancel culture. There is also a recognition of the tension of wanting to allow emerging generations a voice but not always liking what they might say!
It was good to see a recognition of the importance of identity, belonging and purpose to the healthy development of young people and how that differs in online and offline spaces. And it was interesting to see research that suggests that whilst Gen Alpha use social media a lot, they say they don’t actually value it as much as we might think.
Read more:
Girls by Freya India is the wake-up call every Christian parent needs
Made, not manufactured: why AI can never be your child’s best friend
Smartphones can be used to build faith in young people in the church
Other tensions Dave grapples with include the desire for authenticity in life and relationships that typifies Gen A and at the same time the way in which social media and in particular AI makes authenticity harder to achieve and find.
Through all of this a recurring theme was the need and desire Gen Alpha has for open, deep connections with older generations. In the context of loneliness and mental health epidemics amongst young people, parents and other adults in the lives of Gen A have the opportunity to provide what they need. They’re looking for honest, listening, wise people who will journey along with them in the difficulties they face, asking significant questions and fostering participation in the life and mission of the church.
And whilst deep fakes abound in the live of young people, this book is a clarion call for us not merely to journey alongside Gen A but to point them to Jesus the source of all truth and wisdom.
