Raising communicative children: Exploring parental strategies for Generation Alpha in Malaysia

Abstract

This study explores the strategies Malaysian parents employ to enhance the communication skills of Generation Alpha, defined as children born between 2010 and 2025 who are growing up surrounded by digital technologies. Communication competence is an important life skill that influences emotional, social and cognitive development, yet the increasing presence of digital devices has raised concerns about the decrease of interpersonal interaction among children. Guided by Social Learning Theory by Bandura and Ecological Systems Theory by Bronfenbrenner, this research examines how parental behaviours, family environments and digital practices contribute to the development of communication abilities in young children. A total of 217 parents from various regions of Malaysia participated in this quantitative descriptive study through structured online questionnaires containing open-ended questions. Responses were analyzed thematically to identify recurring parental strategies and communication practices. Findings reveal that parents commonly employ a combination of traditional and technology-supported approaches such as encouraging daily conversations, modelling positive communication, managing screen time, involving children in social activities and guiding the use of educational media. These strategies were found to improve children’s verbal confidence, empathy and adaptability while excessive gadget use, inconsistent parental monitoring and lack of communication awareness emerged as key challenges. The study concludes that effective communication development requires a balanced relationship between digital exposure and interpersonal interaction. Parents play a crucial role as communicative role models whose consistent engagement, emotional warmth and constructive guidance shape the linguistic and social growth of Generation Alpha in Malaysia.