One of every seven Richmonders belongs to Gen Alpha, the generation of kids born between 2010 and 2024, according to Axios.
About Gen Alphas
Gen Alpha is short for Generation Alpha. It comes after Generation Z. It is named after Alpha, the first letter in the Greek alphabet. Gen Alphas belong to the only generation born fully in the 21st century. The oldest is 14 years old, and the youngest will be born this year.
Gen Alphas were born during the time of a climate crisis, a pandemic, school shootings, and growing up entirely online.
They’re projected to be the largest generation in history, and the events that shape them will eventually shape the city’s future. They are seen as “a landmark generation.”
Mental health for Gen Alphas
The combination of being in virtual school during critical development years and having greater access to technology at younger ages than previous generations is causing high anxiety levels.
Katie Francis is the mental health services program manager at Childsavers, a Richmond nonprofit focused on trauma-informed therapy for children. She contends that the different things happening in the lives of Gen Alphas will force them to become more attuned to the world around them earlier, which can shape anxiety around safety and the future.