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There is a small difference between the phrases tween and preadolescent, but it is not big. Whichever expression you use, it will apply to children who are no longer young children but are not yet teenagers. Teenagers have a hard line and are considered teenagers from 13 to 19 years old. The preadolescent and preadolescent years are a time of change and transition for both children and parents.

Children in this age group are no longer “small,” but they still need a lot of mom and dad. They are not yet ready to be more independent at home when they are teenagers, but they are succeeding. It is a change, but of course the natural process of things. The mother may have more difficulty with this than the child.

As your child grows, so will your parenting. Preteens and preadolescents have different needs than young children, and as a parent, it can take a while to find a new groove. When are the preadolescent and preadolescent years? Via Pexels These childhood years mean that pre-puberty is here and full puberty is near. 8-year-old girls and 9-year-old boys begin to show signs of puberty.

There does not appear to be a clear age range for preadolescent children. Some say that children between the ages of 10 and 12 are preadolescents, while others say that these years begin at the age of 8 and 9 and up to the age of 12. The phrase tween comes from these children who are not young children but are not teenagers.

They’re in the middle, do you understand? The two phases are used interchangeably and really have no difference. It all comes down to personal preferences. The use of the words tween and preadolescent means the same thing and refers to the same age group of children. The only difference seems to be that sometimes the phrase interpolation is used more for those on the younger end of the preadolescent spectrum, such as 8- and 9-year-olds.

Preadolescents are those who are 10, 11 and 12 years old. Again, there is no clear definition, and using either works well. RELATED: 5 Ways to Help Kids Get Smooth in High School Healthline described these preadolescent years as “transformers” for everyone involved. As a parent, you will see both physical and behavioral changes.

Here are some signs that your sweet child is now more preadolescent: acting more rebellious at home, needing more sleep on weekends and school holidays, a new shift in hobbies and interests, starting to be afraid to feel ashamed , seem more emotional, and new concerns about how they look and how they are perceived.

Physical changes are also taking place. Both boys and girls will start to grow taller, lose all baby teeth, begin to develop more body hair, and may even begin to develop acne. Girls will start to have small breast attacks and may even start menstruating. Your preteen is likely to come to you with questions about their changing bodies and you should answer them honestly.

What does your preadolescent need? Preteens need empathy and understanding. As our children grow older, so do their problems. These preadolescent years can be difficult to navigate and with them and all their peers changing, there will surely be problems of friendship at school and areas where they need more support.

Very Well Family reminds parents not to control their preadolescent during these formative years. That’s when kids start to develop their own personality even further. Just be there for them and don’t control them. Source: Very Well Family, Healthline, Child Mind Institute Mother’s post on what preadolescent girls should do goes viral A mother went to Facebook to show what she thinks 12-year-old girls should do and her message it went viral and gained a lot of support.

Read more About the Author Larissa Marulli (635 articles published) Larissa Marulli is the mother of two young school-age children. She graduated in journalism shortly before having her first child and is a news and report writer for Moms. The proud mother of two is from Colorado and loves the mountains. seasonal changes and hot coffee all year round.

Larissa has seen it all and struggled with the challenges of motherhood. With age he is getting better and he is proud to use the written word to entertain others and also to educate. Larissa loves books, naps, small doses, and family.

Many parents don’t need to read Meta’s internal research to know that Instagram can be toxic to teens. People who identify as women are especially susceptible to content that triggers depression or body image problems. Following a September Wall Street Journal article that revealed that Meta (formerly known as Facebook and Instagram’s parent company) was aware of the negative impact of Instagram on teens, the social media giant he stated that his internal investigation was taken out of context.

However, last week, Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri testified before a Senate subcommittee to address questions from lawmakers about the effect of the application on the mental health of its young users. Related story Madonna’s 6 children gathered for a winter photo of the whole family – see Lourdes Leon, her twins and more Instagram seems worried: the day before the hearing,

Mosseri posted a long post on blog detailing the new features that Instagram plans to launch next spring to make the app safer for teens, including a stricter approach to recommended content types, encouraging users not to pause too long on any theme and tools for parents to get more involved in their children’s social media experience.

As is customary in our increasingly high-tech world, many adults are making decisions about what is best for children. But what would teenage girls (especially their parents) really know about Instagram? And what advice do you give to children who are just starting to use the app? SheKnows interviewed 10 teenagers in the United States to get their honest, uncensored view of Instagram. (Instagram did not immediately respond to SheKnows’ request for comment).

Preteens and adolescents are especially vulnerable to body image problems. While Instagram requires users to be at least 13 years old, most of the teens we spoke with admitted to creating their accounts as preteens, and only one was 10 years old! And during those challenging high school years, Instagram made them feel like they weren’t up to par.

“I’m very aware of how I look, so when I see other people posting pictures where they look great, I feel less than that, which is pretty toxic to me in general,” says Natalie, a 14-year-old New York, New York. “Swimsuit ads will appear and it’s always the same body type, usually a slim blonde girl.” Instagram ads and recommended content also often lead to feelings of inferiority. “When I started on Instagram, I saw a lot of posts about diets and what to eat to have the perfect body, but now I’ve blocked a lot of them,” says Melody, a 13-year-old Queens girl. , New York.

Meanwhile, Shannon, a 14-year-old from Brooklyn, New York, complains about Instagram’s lack of body (and ethnic) diversity. “Swimsuit ads will show up and it’s always the same body type, usually a slim blonde girl,” she says. Users can bypass Instagram algorithms by hiding suggested ads and posts. But that puts teenagers in charge of doing the work of curating the content they are being offered.

Of course, as Sophia, 13, of Saratoga Springs, New York, points out, Instagram isn’t the only place teens feed on perfect-bodied nonsense. “It’s everywhere, on all media in general, not just on social media, like billboards, posters, and ads,” he says. The pressure to accumulate likes and followers is real. All the teens who spoke to us and mentioned the stress of counting their likes and followers and comparing their numbers to that of their peers.

“Half of my friends buy their fans and likes,” says Milla, a 16-year-old from Marshfield, Massachusetts. Many have experimented with hiding their similar counts, hoping not to compete. But there is still pressure from peers to keep these statistics public. “It’s very dirty,” says Maggie, a 15-year-old from Charleston, South Carolina.

“One of my best friends was in a photo back home with me that I posted, and she said, ‘Why would you close your likes?’ I said it didn’t matter. same photo and it kept bothering me to compare our tastes “. “Half of my friends buy their followers and likes.” You never know what you’ll find on the Explore page Because the content shown on the Explore page of the app is created by accounts that users don’t follow, what often appears is crap.

While many teens acknowledged that they found “inspiration” in this section, Milla warns, “You don’t know what you’re going to find; you can’t really control it. So there’s a risk. It can be triggering.” Instagram can be a waste of time, so it’s important to set boundaries. Teens reported that they had posted on Instagram when they needed a distraction or break with responsibilities.

“Excessive use of social media is not usually the root of all ills for a teenager, but a way to deal with and disconnect from personal and academic stress that ends up doing more harm than good,” he says. Reed, 16. old man from Princeton, New Jersey. “Don’t blame a teen’s struggles on social media, but recognize that you can limit yourself to more physical and interactive activities that can make your child happier.”

Sometimes teens will only be on Instagram for a minute, and then leave hours later. Some teens admitted that they deleted all of their content or even the entire app temporarily because it drained their time and emotions. “I deleted it for about a year in the summer before the eighth,” says Milla. “It felt great not to always have that pressure in the back of my mind. Then I lowered it again the summer before high school.”

Instagram has launched a Take a Break tool that encourages users to relax once they have been away for a while. But it only counts the consecutive minutes spent on the app, the missing teens coming in and out of Instagram. Instagram has its flaws, but other social networking apps are worse Although all teens had complaints about Instagram, everyone said other apps are even more dangerous. “It’s definitely not as toxic as other parts of the Internet,” says Shannon.

Several interviewees mentioned their love for VSCO, a competing photo-sharing app that has no likes, comments, or followers. “It’s a lot more fun and carefree than Instagram,” says Maggie. But Instagram has hundreds of millions more users. That said, Instagram is still losing ground with teens. All interviewees reported spending exponentially more time on TikTok and Snapchat.

“TikTok is a lot more time consuming because I can lie in bed and entertain myself with it for hours,” says Alice, an 18-year-old in Providence, Rhode Island. “With Instagram, I can’t entertain myself for more than five or ten minutes!” Right now, some teens are just using Instagram as their messaging app. “I spend a lot of time talking to DMs with friends,” says Autumn, 18, in Poughkeepsie, New York. “Sometimes I think about taking a break, but it’s also the main way to keep in touch with people.”

Remember, Instagram is a corporation that puts its interests ahead of its users. Fronia, a 19-year-old from Houston, Texas, is very cynical — or perhaps expert — when it comes to Instagram. In addition to having a personal Instagram account, he has managed branded accounts for a local theater company and his university, and sees how algorithms make users addicted.

“When it comes to these apps, it’s always important to keep in mind that they’re big business,” he says. “I think teens can use Instagram in a healthy way to keep in touch with friends and have a good time. But keep in mind what’s going on behind the scenes. Instagram is trying to make money with you, and yes that means exploding the minds of young children, they will. ” These celebrities were honest with their kids about racism.

At this time of year, many of us decide to improve our lives and those of those around us. For some of us, making “physical” promises can make us decide to be more active, learn a new skill, or acquire a new hobby. For others, it may be about making “mental commitments” such as having more patience, being more empathetic, or expressing more love.

But who among us wouldn’t want to commit to learning more about parenting and communicating with our children as they continue their journey into adulthood? There is a seemingly endless supply of headlines that promote the latest parenting styles of popular culture.

And there is no shortage of celebrities and parenting enthusiasts advocating for the latest and greatest approach. You may have heard terms such as free parents, helicopter, drone, tiger, or even unicorn. While each parenting style has its own pros and cons, one in particular stands the test of time: balanced parenting.

How to Be a Balanced Parent A balanced father offers a lot of love and support to his children. They achieve a balance between warmth and rules. They give young people the freedom to make their own decisions, but they do not hesitate to intervene when the situation requires it. They prioritize open and honest communication, set reasonable boundaries, and encourage respectful behavior.

I refer to this style as parenting. Parents serve as a stable force on the coast, guiding their children to safety and preparing them to sail alone in the waves and choppy waters. Now, you may be wondering, “How do I apply this approach to my own child?” As an example, let’s look at how this style supports school success.

While parents at the lighthouse can sometimes celebrate their young person’s academic achievements, they also offer support and comfort when they fail. They help their children learn from mistakes and recover, correct problematic behaviors when needed, and set clear expectations for their effort.

This balance of love and care with rules and boundaries helps young people learn responsibility and consequences and increases their motivation and confidence. It also makes them more open to parental guidance and more likely to make responsible decisions on their own. Balanced parenting and brain development Parents play a vital role in young people’s lives.

A balanced approach is one of the best ways to support teen brain development. Teenagers have very active reward centers looking for new sensations. They need to test boundaries to maximize learning and development. Parents can provide boundaries to allow for safe exploration.

Rules are most effective when young people understand that they exist to protect them and not control them. Enforcing rules while keeping communication open and showing love is the best recipe for a well-adapted and resilient young adult. Balanced parenting works It’s easy to get overwhelmed with all the parenting tips out there today. Rest assured that decades of research demonstrate balanced work for parents.

Studies show that parents who use a balanced approach with their teens saw better school performance, higher self-esteem, better mental health, less drug use, safer driving behavior, later and safer initiation. of sex and less violence. Young people with balanced parents tend to be healthier and better prepared for adulthood.

Other parenting styles tend to fall at opposite ends of the spectrum. Some focus on loving affection and others are more concerned with fostering independence. Some prioritize rules and obedience, while others take a freer approach.

It is also important to recognize that there are parenting styles across the spectrum that are deeply rooted in the cultural values ​​and experiences of the community. Each young person will have specific needs, and each family will have different circumstances. A balanced approach allows parents to build on their own strengths and incorporate new skills to ensure the best possible outcomes for their children.

This New Year’s Eve – Decide to Find Your Balance As you enter the new year, think of ways to integrate a balanced parenting approach into your own family. Think about how you handle essential conversations with your teens and how you communicate expectations and enforce rules.

Remember that the best way to help your child navigate the choppy waters on their own is to prepare them at home. There will be times when parenting is easy and other times when it feels like a challenge. But deciding to be a more balanced parent is a resolution that can benefit the whole family for years to come.

Mom, Lisa shares her 10 family activities to combat boredom for kids of all ages who complain that they get bored during the school holidays. After a long year of border closures, confinements and our usual shared custody, our mixed family has finally been able to spend some time together.

Between me, yours and ours, a life we ​​live, my fiancé and I share four children from nine months to 14 years old, all boys. It’s not easy to find an activity to please everyone, especially with a baby thrown into the mix these days. Here are some tried and tested activities that families can use to keep the whole tribe entertained and keep the moans to a minimum (let’s be real that we can. be happy, at least for a while) .

Make this school vacation memorable

1. A trip to the beach What would be a list of summer activities without a suggestion to go to the beach? is a sure hit for all ages, be sure to pack a shade, sunscreen and rash for the whole family, and put yourself in a bucket and shovel to keep the little ones entertained.

2. family bike ride Take some wheels and faith It’s a walk. Scooters, bicycles, helmets and your set. Most suburbs have bike lanes or small bomb lanes for children. Have older kids teach younger ones how to do it, maybe even teach them to ride without training wheels. A great bonding experience for all.

3. Make some bakery Who doesn’t like chocolate chip cookies or chocolate cake? Get the older kids to help the little ones and you’ll have a great bonding experience for everyone. Just make sure you take it easy with the mess; let them lick the beaters and carry the flour everywhere, that’s part of the fun.

4. Plan a movie night at home Unfortunately, we did not have the summer we requested. There is a lot of rain. Get ready for a rainy day with a great home movie night, also safe for COVID. You can grab some movie-style popcorn bags for almost anything online, and if you want to do it all, there are party-style movie-themed decorations you can put on. If you want it to be even more fun, give the kids Monopoly money and they should “buy” all their drinks and food for the show. Source: supplied. RELATED: Backyard Craft Ideas for School Holidays

5. Participate in a water game Whether it’s a watering can, a sprinkler or a water game Slip N Slide makes everyone happy and entertained on these long, hot summer days. If you’re lucky, you might find yourself in a situation like mine: I bought a water slide for Christmas. It was a “children’s slide” and was marketed for ages 4-8. I got it for the little ones in the hopes that the older kids would help the baby on the slide. We move quickly to the day we opened it and, my God, this thing is the size of a slide in a water park. Suffice it to say that it has kept everyone entertained for hours on hot days – older kids and mom and dad included. The best accidental purchase ever.

6. Making a time capsule Time capsules were always fun when I was little. In first grade, I did one that said I would be a hairdresser and that I got married at 21 years old. None of this happened. As a family, you can make a long-term capsule or just a ‘start to 2022’ capsule that you can open on New Year’s Eve. Each child can choose something to add to the capsule and anyone can write a letter to open it. A current photo of each child is a great addition so they can see how much they have grown when they open it. You will be amazed at how even older children can be invested when they learn about themselves.

7. Walking in the woods While hiking in the heat doesn’t seem too appealing, listen to me. Australia has some of the best waterfalls around. Take a look at the net to find some nearby ones. Pack your family with decent shoes, a backpack of supplies for the day and discover what your local walks can offer. I promise you will find some hidden gems and teens will love how worthy they are of Instagram.

8. Take a historical walk. If COVID has taught us anything, it is the benefit of a stay. And there’s no better way to learn about your hometown than a walking tour. Some cities offer historical walking tours or, better yet, get older kids to research online and plan a walking route. Finish off with a nice coffee or beach to relax with the family. Take the local road! Source: supplied.

9. Visit the zoo or aquarium. Old favorite I know, but for some reason they are the favorites. Kids love animals. A great day trip is to a local zoo or aquarium. Older kids could enjoy an animal experience, my teens were thrilled to have snakes and alligators in a reptile park earlier this year. The little ones love everything and will no doubt crash into the car at home; just make sure you stay safe from COVID.

10. Have a family picnic in the park After a year without being with your loved ones, get back to basics. Invite the extended family (if they are close enough) and have a picnic in the park. An easy barbecue, some grilling in the park and the whole family is happy again!

As parents, we are committed to loving our children no matter what. We love them through the terrible two, we love them as they enter their teens, and we love them through every decision they make. However, there are times when we also stumble and have our own emotions about the things our children do or say, and sometimes parents struggle with things like diagnosing a disability or a child who “has to leave “.

After all, our children are still worthy of love, and these books can help a parent whose son has just come out as an LGBTQ +. RELATED: LGBTQ + children thrive mentally with accepted parents 7 This is a book for parents of gay children by Danielle Owens-Reid and Kristin Russo This is a great first purchase for any parent who knows nothing about the LGBTQIA + community.

It is full of basic community information, provided in a question-and-answer format that flows very well. According to BookRiot, it also includes real-life examples of LGBTQ + children and their parents, which can really help parents connect and understand the issues a little more. If reading isn’t your forte, don’t worry.

The authors also include timely lists of information, easy-to-read graphics, and chapter summaries. Available on Amazon: $ 18.95 6 Coming Out, Coming Home by Michael LaSala Via Shutterstock In this highly recommended book by PFLAG, LaSala shares the best research-supported interventions for families as they begin their journey after your son “comes out.”

In this amazing text, LaSala offers suggestions for parents suffering from depression, anxiety, and grief with the news, as well as helpful tips for re-establishing a meaningful connection between parents and LGBTQIA + children. This time of transition can be difficult for any family, but LaSala assures parents that many families end up closer than ever once they process the news. With this text as a guide, families can better communicate and understand each other.

Available on Amazon: $ 30.95  The Gender Creative Child by Diane Ehrensaft This incredibly comprehensive resource explains why gender can be fluid rather than just binary. Throughout the text, Ehrensaft shares how biology, education, and culture can shape a child’s gender identity in a way that parents can understand. It also encourages caregivers to listen to and support their children as they discover who they are. Experts and people in the LGBTQ + community agree that this is a must-read for parents of transgender children with a gender expansion. Easy to read, but full of information and support.

Available on Amazon: $ 11.58 4 Love, Ellen: A Mother / Daughter Journey by Betty DeGeneres In love, Ellen, Betty DeGeneres shares her complicated story that took decades to unfold. From Ellen’s first conversation to the deepening of her friendship with her daughter, Betty covers everything in an identifiable and genuine way. This is an insightful, touching, and wise love story between mother and daughter. Throughout Betty’s story, many parents can find their own path to understanding and friendship with their LGBTQ + child.

Available on Amazon: $ 16.99 3 My Parenting Journey With an LGBTQ + Child by Cheryl B. Evans This interactive diary helps parents of LGBTQ + children to be honest and vulnerable through a series of journalistic instructions that encourage reflection . These cues can help you process your emotions, such as fear, pain, and anger, as well as help you find peace and understanding along the way. In fact, many parents benefit from relaxing, reflecting, and documenting what matters most to them. In addition to the more than 100 directions, it also includes activities, inspirational quotes, and curiosities that you can share with your child.

Available on Amazon: $ 13.99 2 Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out by Susan Kuklin This book is full of personal accounts shared by six teens who identify as transgender or non-binary shared through a series of interviews, photographs, and personal narratives. According to POPSUGAR, it is full of happy transition stories, heartbreaking moments and everything in between. It is honest, raw and complete. This book has won awards and is considered an innovative work of LGBT literature. In fact, it’s a great book for parents and teens, and it could even be a story that the whole family reads together.

Available on Amazon: $ 12.99 1 The Social Justice Advocate’s Handbook: A Guide to Gender by Sam Killermann This book explains many of the gender terms that can cause parents to scratch their heads in confusion, such as genderfluid, non-binary, and queer. The text breaks things down in a way that makes it simple and anything but exhausting. It covers topics such as “breaking the track”, feminism / gender equality, social justice and gender. While this text does not fully clarify this, it is a great starting point for parents who want to learn more about their children. Oh, and 100% of the copyright goes directly to Hues, a global justice collective.

Available on Amazon: $ 16.95 Many parents have no idea what to do or say when their child leaves. However, these books can help you process your own feelings and have a better view of what your child is like. After all, the most important thing you can do for any child is to love them, no matter who they are. Sources: BookRiot, PFLAG, POPSUGAR How I Navigated the “Exit” Process with My Children Speaking to my children,

I learned that children do not judge our sexuality if you raise them in a way that promotes acceptance and individuality. Read more About the Author Megan Glosson (547 articles published) Megan Glosson is a mother and freelance writer based in Nashville, Tennessee. She enjoys writing about a variety of parenting topics, but loves to take on anything that has a personal connection to her own life. When she’s not writing, you’ll probably find Megan building Legos or playing board games with her two adorable daughters.