Your Tween, Explained

When our kids reach a certain age—as young as eight, some experts say, and definitely well before thirteen— they suddenly don't think their parents are as great as they once did. Congratulations, you're officially the parent of a tween!

This week we're talking about what tweens are going through emotionally and psychologically... and how we can give them room to grow while still seizing opportunities to connect with them as (big) children.

Margaret and Amy discuss:

• The cognitive shifts that happens in tweens' brains
• Why the ways we relate to our tweens has to change along with them
• Why "not taking it personally" is, and isn't, the right advice

We may feel the urge to defend our actions or intentions to our tweens when they spar with us, but we don't actually have to get down "in the mud" with our kids whenever they push our buttons.

Links!

• Michelle Anthony for Scholastic Parents: Cognitive Development in 11-13 Year Olds
• John Mersch, MD for Medicine Net: Tween: Child Development (9-11 Years Old)
• Here’s our interview with Katie Hurley, author of No More Mean Girls: The Secret to Raising Strong, Confident, and Compassionate Girls.
• Our "Fresh Take" interview with Dr. Becky Kennedy on being "Good Inside"

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