A tween is a person between the ages of 9 and 14. Parents are very familiar with this stage of development because it is often filled with new issues on a daily basis.
Parenting a tween is like enrolling in a six year graduate program at university. Consider this a homecoming of sorts? There will be lots to learn and figure out. You’ll do many experiments and will note the results for the next time. There will be theses to write, and you’ll test and re-write so many times, you’ll forget what your original plan was!
Welcome to Tween University. Let’s start with Tweens 101!
Our curriculum for the year will look a little like this:
Exploring ideas on how to handle smoking, the cell phone, abuse of phone priviledges, body image (for both girls and boys), menstruation, negative peer influences, making tough decisions, school transitions, degrees of independence and family dynamic. This list is not exhaustive, in fact, it barely scratches the surface.
Like any good program there will be lots of time for questions and answers and group discussions. I am excited to take this journey with you as I am the parent of a 9 year-old boy and have enjoyed the experience of being a camp director to hundreds of tweens over the last twelve years. I look forward to sharing both my personal experiences and my professional insights.
Please join the discussion by sending your concerns or questions and sharing your personal experiences. We will be sure to include your input in one of our columns. You can either post a comment on the blog or email me directly at robyn@adventurevalley.ca.
Photo: © Camiml | Stock Free Images & Dreamstime Stock Photos
