If you happen to be the parent of a soon-to-be teenager, sit quietly for a moment and remember back to your own adolescence. If you’re like most adults, you remember your teen years with a range of mixed emotions. After all, is that not what the teenage years are all about? There are emotions galore running through your tween’s mind. As the parent, it’s up to you to help them ride the hormonal roller coaster and come out the other side happy, well-adjusted adults. Here are a few tips to help you make that happen.
Who are the tweens in your life
The so-called “tween” years happen roughly between the ages of seven and 12. These pre-teen years are known be a veritable minefield for the kids and the parents who love them. Although many kids of this perplexing age group do enjoy spending time with their mom and dad, just as many of them are obstinate and have very little interest in hanging out with their parents. Some want to please their folks, some just want to fight.
Expect the unexpected
If you think that life with a tween is going to be smooth sailing, do think again. Your tween may be completely loving one moment, a bag of wild cats the next. That’s the thing about pre-teens– the hormones and emotions can be a pretty crazy ride, both for the child and her or his parents, too.
Tweens are developing adult bodies sooner than they did a generation ago. By the time they enter junior high school, many if not most 21st century tweenagers experience physical development and mood swings, too. The emotional changes associated with the tween years are awesome in their scope and dimension. Love your kid, assure them that they’re not going permanently nuts, and ride the storm as best you can. Tricky behaviors are inevitable in this age group. Parents of hormone-ravaged teens ought not to take their erratic behavior personally, says Super Nanny.
If you can afford to hire a sitter and get away for a few days, do it. We know about a personal loan that may help you save your sanity by taking a long weekend with your spouse or best friend.
Offer guidance, but don’t push your tween
Tweens are going to lose their cool once in awhile. It’s just the way it is. Be consistent, hug your kids even when they don’t appreciate the gesture, and set boundaries with enforceable consequences. When your tween becomes frustrated, acknowledge their feelings and offer guidance without taking over the task at hand. Explanations go a lot further than lectures, especially with tweens and teenagers.
Being the parent of any age child is a mixed plate of challenges and joys. Raising a tween is the natural progression of rearing a toddler. These years go by in the wink of an eye, so remember to enjoy your kids, even when they’re semi-insane tweens.