CREATIVITY FLOURISHES AMONG GEN Z-ers AMID QUARANTINE
The Gen Z-ers are proving the cliché wrong, that youth is wasted on the young.
Despite mandated limitations on movement, these youngsters continue to learn, express, and pursue passions to remain productive and optimistic. It is essential, therefore, to invest in nurturing our children’s interests. After all, the confinement affords the young ones unparalleled time for discovery, learning, and exploration of talents and potential –all essential for their bright post-pandemic future
Rustan’s shares the stories of six Gen Z-ers, who have been coping positively with the “new normal” through self-discovery, passion projects, and skill-building endeavors.
The Budding Cooks and Bakers
One of the most popular hobbies among the youth today is baking and cooking. Some have even taken the next step by starting their own businesses.
Ten-year-old Mackenzie Huang shares, “I’ve been baking a lot. I started with cupcakes, then added cookies. Now I’m experimenting with cakes. I even started my own baking business.”
MacKenzie’s sibling, six-year-old Cameron Huang, shares his budding passion for baking like his sister and has learned a few other things over the quarantine, “I’ve been helping my sister with her baking business. I also mastered chopsticks and learned how to tie my shoes!”
Whether one’s baking for a special occasion or just to satiate sweet cravings, Kitchencraft is sure to be one’s best cake-baking buddy with products to help you whip up mouthwatering cakes like Spring Form Cake Pans, Teacake Pans, and Cupcake Pans. Cake Boss also has awesome tools like Decorating Turntables, Icing Spatulas, and Flower Kits.
Another baker in the making is 16-year-old Mischka Tiangco. She muses, “I was able to dedicate my time to baking and opening a business from home. I also joined an online summer program in Columbia where I took up psychology.”
Baking + business + online classes? Talk about productivity! Rustan’s offers smart kitchen solutions such as book or tablet stands from Kikkerland to easily read recipes or watch cooking shows while mixing ingredients with powerful mixers from Breville. Once done, pour batters onto clear storage-to-baking containers from Pyrex and take it straight to the oven or the freezer.\
The Fitness Enthusiasts
Aside from the kitchen, these energetic youngsters love staying active in their home gyms. Losing access to outdoor sports facilities has been difficult for some but having a space for home workouts proves to be a good stress reliever.
Taty Lopez, 13, shares, “I miss seeing my friends and my family members like everyone else, but I also miss going out of my own home. I miss going out to shop, eat, do gymnastics, and performing with my cheerleading teammates. But eventually, I was able to adapt to this new environment. I like to keep myself active from all the food we have been cooking up.”
Stretch and test flexibility with complete exercise wear and gear from Under Armour. Throughout the whole exercise, ensure hydration, easier done with water bottles from Aladdin and S’well. while you move to the beats emanating from speakers by Jam Audio.
The Digital Creatives
Let’s not forget that Gen-Z is the most digitally adept generation by far. Growing up in a social environment where almost everything is accessible by phone has trained them to express themselves confidently via online platforms.
Irijah De Leon, 19, found opportunities to use his talent professionally. He tells us, “I love working in the video medium, like shooting videos and writing scripts but I never truly liked editing the footage I shot. I used to see it as a means to an end but now after joining multiple organizations during quarantine, I’ve edited more than I ever have before. I honestly lost count of how many editing tutorials I’ve watched to get better at it. I’ve even been hired professionally by colleges, business organizations, and budding entrepreneurs to make advertisements, all from the comfort of my home!”
Writing, shooting, and editing videos is a lot of work! Everyone needs the right tools to make every work-at-home station as functional as possible. Lab.C X5 5port USB Wall Charger is a universal adapter with 5 USB ports that enables to charge up to 5 devices at the same time. Easily review clips by projecting them using the Kodak Luma 350, a smart projector that serves as an all-in-one portable cinema and keep your gadgets clean with Whoosh! Screen Shine Go. Too much focus can make you forget your liquids. Make sure to keep hydrated using bottles from Corkcicle and Kleen Kanteen. Don’t forget to give your tush some cush with Orthopedic cushions from Malouf.
Ten-year-old Bella Tantoco keeps busy by building and conceptualizing gameplays with other users on Roblox. She shares, “I’ve been building on Roblox this quarantine. Aside from that, some things I can’t live without are my phone, iPad, and school supplies.”
As the youth continues to learn online, a good pair of headphones from Sony will help them focus and get rid of background noise around the house. Solving puzzles and sketching are good complementary activities for the young ones. Test your logic with the ultimate solitaire game for all ages, Smart Games Quadrillion, or get creative with doodles and sketches using MyFirst’s Sketch Pad Pro 10 and Liquid Crystal Sketch Pad 8.5, while keeping extremely comfortable with floor chairs or pillow from Kabul and Malouf.
While the younger generation awaits for life to return to (new) normal, it is every parent or guardian’s responsibility to keep the youth’s inner spark alive. One way is by providing the necessary materials needed to inspire, motivate, and teach. Now is a crucial time to be present in their lives and to build stronger family relations. The youth notice the little things. By supporting their new hobbies and interests, it is inevitable to form a stronger bond. Invest in the younger generation and look forward to their bright future.
