Have you ever met a child who seems extremely indifferent, as if they do not need help from anyone? A child who appears so unmotivated, as though they have no energy or enthusiasm for anything?
We may find ourselves wondering, “What is this child actually interested in?”
But then, watch what happens when they start talking about something they truly enjoy.
Suddenly, their eyes light up. Their voices change. They become enthusiastic and full of energy. They may spend hours exploring, searching for information, and learning everything they can about that particular topic.
In that moment, we see another side of the child—someone who actually has tremendous curiosity and the ability to put in an extraordinary amount of effort when they find something meaningful to them.
This is one of the challenges we face when accompanying Generation Alpha.
What concerns us is when the things that spark their curiosity and enthusiasm come from risky or harmful trends. This might include content related to suicide, bullying trends, aggressive behavior presented as something “cool,” or unhealthy gaming habits.
But their curiosity itself is not the problem.
In fact, curiosity is a strength.
Their ability to explore something deeply, persistently, and even become highly knowledgeable about it is an incredible potential. The challenge is helping them direct that curiosity, energy, and determination toward things that are healthy, meaningful, and constructive.
Gen Alpha may look extremely indifferent. They may not always show that they need us. Sometimes, they may even appear more comfortable in their own world.
But that does not mean they do not need guidance.
When I think about accompanying them as they grow, I imagine watching a child walking along a narrow path with cliffs on both sides. The child may feel capable of walking alone. They may even believe they do not need anyone beside them.
But the more distractions and interesting things they encounter along the way, the greater the possibility that they may lose their direction or take a path that is unsafe.
This is where the presence of adults becomes incredibly important.
Children do not always need parents who constantly give them advice. They need parents who are present, attentive, and able to become a safe place to return to.
A place where they can share without immediately being judged.
A place where they can express their curiosity without being afraid of being scolded.
A place where they can say, “I saw something strange online,” or “I’m curious about this,” and know that their parents are willing to listen.
Because ultimately, accompanying Gen Alpha is not simply about monitoring what they see or restricting what they do.
More than that, we are helping them build an inner compass—so that one day, when they walk without us beside them, they can recognize the difference between something that is interesting but dangerous, something that is challenging but healthy, and something that truly helps them grow.
Perhaps they do not always need us to walk beside them.
But they still need to know that when they are about to lose their way, there is always a safe place to return to.
And perhaps our role is not to extinguish the “fire” of their curiosity.
Our role is to help them discover where that fire should be directed.
By Ms.Citra Dewi