by Hannah Kampen

Created on: December 05, 2011   Last Updated: December 06, 2011

All right, the Zombie Apocalypse has now happened. You have been one of the lucky few to actually beat your way past them, make a safe zone, and connect with other survivors. Now what? The next generation, Gen Z. Guess what? In addition to taking care of yourself, you've also got to worry about the kids of the future.

1. Let's face it. People will not keep their you-know-what's in their pants, no matter what happened to the world. So it's time to prepare for children (I don't think you're going to rummage around and find an everlasting supply of birth control). First things first - is everyone in your (we'll call it "village") up to snuff for raising kids? Is it going to be the soccer mom attitude of "Well, Timmy's the best" and people fighting over that? No, this is not the time to be whining about whose kid is best - this is the time for the survivors to come together to ensure the survival, and humanity, of the human race. By now, you've probably already dictated a leader for your village. Obviously, you've set up your shacks and what not, and hopefully have some sort of steady food coming in (not zombified cow meat, but plants and such).

2. First things first. The children are going to imitate you. If you find a dog and decide to eat it, (let's look at it realistically, starvation or eating something new that won't kill you?) if you happen to make a face or refuse to eat it, your young children will do the same. It's time to forget all of your "biasedness" from previous society. Hey, while we're at it - let's get rid of the deadbeat dads, druggies, alcoholics, religious zealots, etc. Let's look at this positively!

3. WOMEN! Guess what? You are the SOLE surviving chance of humankind. What a great blessing. Now bear children. Without any medicine, without proper healthcare, without proper doctors or hospitals. Crap. Get used to it - your babies will be exposed to dirt and filth and blood and all sorts of mucky stuff. Your job is to make sure that baby survives. (No, I'm not talking about men being hunters and women being gatherers - I'm talking during pregnancy). So buck up - you've got a long 9 months ahead of you.

4. The children of generation Z will have to be taught basic survival skills, first and foremost. How to grow food, how to forage, how to escape zombies, how to kill zombies. Their childhood will not be nearly as great as yours was. Were you mad when your parents got divorced when you were 10? Aww. I'll bet these kids will be mad that they saw daddy get eaten alive. They will need someone of a mother figure to console them when the day has been long (here's where the native american thoughts of a village raising all the children, everyone partakes a little, come into play), someone of a hunting figure to show them how to track zombies and edible animals, someone of a figure to show them to forage and mend clothing (if this new society decides to wear clothing), etc.

5. Children are going to need literacy after survival skills. Make it a point to stress to all of them that they should read everything to learn. Instead of having one doctor in the group (who could get eaten, then you're screwed), wouldn't it be better to have everyone know the basics, if not more, of doctoring? Let's face it, though - we're going to need lawyers and politicians for a long while, so let's delay them a bit.

This generation is up to us to raise (if the zombie apocalypse happens) so let's look at it positively - this is definitely a way to redefine the world in a better view.

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