The Baby Boomers, in what appears to be coming from a place of alarm, are transmitting to younger generations that something is wrong. And as a consequence, we often make them feel as if something is wrong with them.

I feel it with my own grandsons who, for example, dine out far more than I or my own children did growing up. When they come for dinner, I find myself exasperated that they’re picky about food. If dinner is not laden with high fructose corn syrup and salt, or have a well-studied and pleasant texture, they aren’t interested in what I’m serving. I have said on more than one occasion that my kitchen is not the same as it is at Chipotle or Applebees, and what you get at my house are homemade dishes tried and true for generations. I want them to be more curious and accepting of foods that aren’t ordered from a menu.

I need to have more patience, as their history, and their experience, has been decided by others. But I think a lot of us older folks are puzzled by today’s social and cultural changes to the point of being angry and that’s a mistake.

We sense that the collective IQ has decreased in our country, and we’re not wrong about that. According to NBC News and a host of other news organizations, research shows the average IQ of people in the United States has dropped for the first time in nearly 100 years, especially in the 18 to 22 years age group, and across the board overall, regardless of age or gender. The studies quoted in the articles were conducted by Northwestern University and the University of Oregon.

This is alarming because historically we’ve enjoyed what’s called “The Flynn Effect” whereby IQ has, and is expected to continue, to increase with each generation. That is no longer the case.

The researchers report that a single IQ point is worth around 2 percent of an individual’s lifetime productivity. And while the loss of one or two IQ points might not be immediately noticeable at the individual level, the cumulative effects can be felt in society at large.

Other cause for concern is the ranking of schools in the United States in comparison to the rest of the world. In terms of primary and secondary education, the Program for International Student Assessment is one of the most widely recognized rankings. According to the latest PISA rankings in 2018, the United States ranked 13th in reading, 18th in science, and 37th in mathematics among the participating countries. (While it’s obvious to anyone over the age of 30 that the “new math” might be to blame, try telling that to the Department Of Education.)

It is my belief that education in this country began to suffer beginning in 1980, when the Federal Department of Education was created. It has been a subject of debate among education experts and policymakers for quite some time. While some argue that the department has played a positive role in improving education in the country, others argue that it has had little impact or has even been a hindrance to progress.

One of the criticisms of the DOE is that it has contributed to an increase in federal control over education policy and funding, which some argue has limited the ability of states and local communities to make decisions that are best suited to their specific needs. Additionally, some critics argue that the department has become bureaucratic and inefficient, with a focus on compliance and regulation rather than on improving education outcomes.

COVID policies were also a detriment to our youth in ways we are just beginning to quantify. Of all the heartbreaking effects of COVID-19, its impact on young people could prove to be one of its most damaging legacies. In fact, the coronavirus crisis turned back the clock on years of progress made on children’s well-being and has put children’s rights under serious pressure across the globe, according to the Global Child Forum. Issues of access to education, domestic abuse, child labor and lack of decent work are some of the many challenges we are facing as a society.

In light of all this, it’s important to check in with our kids and family members and make changes to lifestyles and routines that can help improve these statistics. My grandsons get tutured in math, and I try to include activities when we’re together that don’t include technology. We go for walks, visit museums, draw, cook, and spend time outdoors.

And I work to appreciate their strengths and hidden talents and let them know they’re okay and that everything else is okay, too. Even if I’m not convinced the world is turning perfectly well, that’s not something they need to be reminded of all the time. Building a strong foundation for them to stand on is far more important and productive.