Young Preteens

Preteens are typically considered to be between the ages of 9 and 12, with young preteens falling in the lower half of that range. They are also sometimes called tweens to reflect their status "in-between" childhood and adolescence.

Preteens

Some 9 and 10-year-olds are in the midst of puberty while others are still a few years away from the physical and emotional changes of this time. Parents should make sure their young preteens are aware of these impending developments. Waiting too long may cause unnecessary stress for a 10-year-old facing her first period or a young boy concerned about the new hair appearing on his body.

The first strains of peer pressure and wanting to fit in can appear during the preteen years. Tweens start to become concerned with what is popular, from celebrities to fashion. They may feel pressured to let go of "childish" pursuits like dolls or cartoons. Both girls and boys start to notice their developing bodies. Whether they are maturing faster or more slowly than their classmates, they will often feel self-conscious about the changes. They may also start to notice members of the opposite sex, feeling additional pressure to seem cool or attractive to their newfound crushes. Parents should remain supportive and reinforce how special their young preteens are, no matter what their peers think.

Young preteens are starting to feel the urge to be "grown up". They may want to watch television, listen to music, and watch movies better suited for teenagers. Luckily, the media recognizes the power of the tween demographic and has created music, movies, and television programming tailored to this younger audience. For instance, The Disney Channel has several series popular with preteens and a host of related musical releases. There are also popular programs suitable for the whole family. If they are interested in pop music, American Idol usually features family-friendly music while presenting hot young stars tweens can fall in love with. With so many options available, battles over appropriate content can be avoided, or at least postponed.

Fashions for young girls often imitate popular junior clothing styles, which some parents may find inappropriate for their young preteens. Thongs, short skirts, platform shoes, crop tops, and similar fashions are sure to cause a fight in front of the clothing store racks. Boys and their parents are less likely to face this problem, although some lines of popular t-shirts feature slogans and logos referencing sex, drugs, and alcohol that young wearers will want to steer clear of. Setting the ground rules before a trip to the mall will help avoid headaches, and a few compromises can soothe a preteen shopper. For instance, a young girl may be allowed to purchase a skimpy tank top, but only if she wears it under a button-up shirt.

The following resources can help young preteens and their parents navigate these important years.

• Today's Parent, a parenting magazine based in Canada, offers articles on behavior, health, nutrition, education, and other topics important to parents of preteens. Discussion forums are also available.
• ParenTalk Newsletter features numerous small articles on preteen issues like physical development and potential problems at school.
• The Palo Alto Medical Foundation has created a website especially for preteens. In addition to health-related information, they can also find book and movie reviews, recipes, and quizzes.
• The Preteen Alliance has the goal of "promoting the emotional and behavioral health of preteens" by providing helpful forums and articles.

• The Everything Tween Book: A Parent's Guide to Surviving the Turbulent Pre-Teen Years by Linda Sonna
• Girls: What's So Bad About Being Good?: How to Have Fun, Survive the Preteen Years, and Remain True to Yourself by Harriet S. Mosatche Ph.D.
• Chicken Soup for the Preteen Soul - 101 Stories of Changes, Choices

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