Communication Gap
Lack of understanding develops between people of widely different age groups, particularly between children (usually from the age of adolescence) and parents, grandparents, etc. This lack of understanding may lead to the children’s rejection by the parents or, at a later stage, when the parents are in need, the parents’ refusal by the children. It can lead to family breakdown, juvenile delinquency, youth gang hooliganism and assault on older people; property destruction; student unrest. It can also lead to rejection by more senior people of new ideas and resistance to change because of fear and prejudice. On the other hand, relative to older people, the talents of young people may be overvalued, leading to early retirement, unemployment, and neglect of middle-aged and older people. The communication gap is due to:
- Lack of dialogue between youth and adults
- Misunderstanding between youth and adults
- Social division among generations
- Insufficient inter-age communication
- Prejudicial generation relationships
- Conflict of generations
- Inter-generational antagonism
1) Grammar translation
1. Gap in Technology
Children are now more technology-savvy than their parents, who mostly have little time to consider the ever-evolving digital world and cope with it. As a result, in the teenage world, they struggle to stay up-to-date with the latest trends. There are many misunderstandings between a parent and a child due to the absence of digital information and parental control software. They are also unaware of the websites accessed by their children and can not track their online actions, which is a must in today’s technology-driven age.
2. Various Attitudes/Perspectives
Most parents do not foster children’s innovative ideas and opinions but rather force their traditional thinking on them. They have a straight face when talking to their children and do not reflect their emotions. Also, they yell at their kids and resort to physical punishment. Nagging and scolding them continuously makes them more irritable. Parents fail to see things from the viewpoint of youngsters, resulting in the broader generation gap.
3. Inadequate co-ordination
Considering the heavy workload and pressures in the workplace, parents find it difficult for their kids to take time off. Thanks to their long working hours, they spend very little time listening to and interacting with kids. As a result, kids stop sharing their school life or other daily activities with their parents and feel overlooked. Such variables form contact barriers between them.
4. Unrealistic Anticipations
Most of the time, parents have aspirations and hopes for their children. Although these expectations motivate children to do more, they feel insecure and take a toll on them with unrealistic ones. Children feel inadequate as parents nag and pressurize them when they are unable to reach the goals. This contributes to low self-esteem and self-criticism in them thus. While it is not easy to solve the problems between a parent and a child, if parents attempt to interact with children on a day-to-day basis, it can easily be overcome. To prevent any confrontations and retribution, it is easier to evaluate any circumstance and respond healthily. Organize family events such as a picnic, home gathering, or other fun outings, and spend your family’s quality time. Parents should allow them enough room so that kids can discuss their concerns with them honestly and appreciate their situation from their point of view.
A Family Treasure is an Elderly Individual
Many elderly people long for greater contact with their grandchildren, so more opportunities for these two generations to communicate should be made. In their twilight years, a closer bond between young people and older people will relieve the feelings of isolation of the elderly and boost their well-being.
It’s easier said than done to bond with the elderly, though. Owing to a generation gap, youths often have a hard time interacting with their grandparents. Many older people over the age of 65 have grown up in a somewhat different cultural and social environment. Many of them received little formal education and were raised in more demanding times that demanded wealth and comfort. They kept past ideals that might seem antiquated to the modern era’s cosmopolitans or perhaps outright confusing to them.
As such, the large gaps in belief systems held by young and old build a burden on both sides to strip their conversations and interactions, the lowest common denominator in their lives, down to the most mundane items in life.
Consequently, young people often find bland and banal relationships with the elderly. But generally, this is not because the elderly are merely dull, but because what they choose to say is that. Therefore, even though both generations are similar in space, they are always far apart in thinking. Many young people would prefer to spend an entire evening browsing the web instead of engaging with their grandparents for a moment of sincere conversation. Other causes may also discourage young people from engaging with them, such as deterioration of sight and hearing and memory loss on the part of the elderly.
A key to bridging the divide is to understand that the bond between generations is not a one-way charity but a relationship of shared love and support. One should slow down, maintain an open stance, lean forward to convey curiosity, lower the pitch and change the tone, maintain eye contact, address the elderly by name, and finally touch the elderly to show warmth, concern, and acceptance to communicate effectively. Young people can also learn to listen, in addition to physical movements
