With any generation, the question should be asked: Are we speaking the same language? Are the ideas you think you’re communicating resonating in the ways you think they are? Do the words you’re using communicate the same things to the listener as they do to you?
In a presentation by ministry leader Keegan Steele, he shared that Gen Alpha is a generation that lives in a fully digital and fully physical space—meaning those spaces are seamless to them. Both the digital experience and the physical experience are equally real—one isn’t more real than the other. Gen Alpha desires authenticity, transparency, and to help others in both of those spaces.
I’m not going to pretend to have all the answers, but I do know that connection is the starting point for language. So, if we are to reach this generation, we must meet them where they are.
Meeting Gen Alpha Where They Are
This might seem like an obvious statement, but there are many times we try to teach from our own context, rather than from the context of our audience. Unintentionally, we expect them to ‘come to us’ as we share. But what if we took the approach of Paul as he followed Christ, and became all things to all people in essence (1 Cor. 9)?
What if we began to sit in the world of Gen Alpha so that we understand their point of view—their cultural context? What if we understood the things they watched and the way they thought?
Much of what we do would look the same to a degree, yes. Scripture is alive and active, relevant just as much today as the day it was penned. But what might change in our approach? Would our language look a little different?
What if we began to sit in the world of Gen Alpha so that we understand their point of view—their cultural context?
And what language should we define for children (and maybe even families)? Do they understand what a blessing is? When you reference books of the Bible, do they know what that means?
Digital Life
Common Sense Media did a report in 2025 that states 40% of children have their own tablet by the age of 2. The same report says that children 0-8 have roughly 2.5 hours of screen time per day.
Chat GPT shows that 1 in 10 kids under age 5 have a smartphone, around 30% of kids 8–10 have a smartphone, and by 11–12, 60% of children have a smartphone (Pew Research).
If digital and physical are synonymous for these kids, and we don’t know how monitored their digital spaces are, it’s important that we know what they might see. Because what they might see is very real to them. And while we don’t want to cross any lines for children who haven’t experienced certain things, our awareness can help us connect with the kids in our ministries.
The more we know them, the better language we’ll have for connection and discipleship.
Values
Do we know what Gen Alpha values? What do they give space and time to in their lives?
It’s hard to connect with adults when we don’t know what’s important to them. The same is true for children. And as well-intended as the ‘when I was your age’ talks are—children today can’t mentally wrap their minds around a world without technology, smartphones, or connection through the internet. It’s all real to them, remember?
However, they are also still kids who like to run and play as they explore nature, participate in sports, and hang out with their friends in person. They are helpful, caring, and have so much potential to be world changers.
Helping Children
Having so much at their fingertips gives them more space for creativity, knowledge, and exploration. It also has it’s hangups. Gen Alpha, can suffer, like Gen Z, from mental unwellness, digital dependence, and information overload.
Today, we all feel this from technology (and life). We can relate! Understanding these things—the good and bad, awesome and hard—helps us connect more.
Walking with Parents
Let’s make sure we’re empowering parents as well.
We can learn from parents, and they can learn from us. When we walk together, we are more equipped to reach children where they are.
We can partner to point kids to Jesus in their everyday moments with relatable language and references that they understand.
As time continues, kids will still be kids—those welcomed in the kingdom of God. They will be curious and full of wonder, just as they are today. But they will face different challenges, experience new things in the world, and have varying interests.
Having the awareness of these things—from their interests to their hangups—helps us have the right language as we share the good news of Jesus in an ever-changing world.
Keep leaning in for connection as you help kids follow Jesus. It will pay off.
It’s important that we don’t think we’ve got it figured out, but rather, that we keep learning about every child who enters our ministries. Because the more we know them, the better language we’ll have for connection and discipleship.
Making an Impact in Your Children’s Ministry
This guide was created to help you dive into some of the topics facing your ministries today and lead into why your curriculum matters and how to choose the right one depending on your needs.
Making an Impact in Your Children’s Ministry
This guide was created to help you dive into some of the topics facing your ministries today and lead into why your curriculum matters and how to choose the right one depending on your needs.
Making an Impact in Your Children’s Ministry
This guide was created to help you dive into some of the topics facing your ministries today and lead into why your curriculum matters and how to choose the right one depending on your needs.
