Shannon Philpott-Sanders

The World of Parents and Their Tweens

Published August 2011: eHow Family & Relationships

The World of Parents and Their Tweens
Patience, Understanding and Love Help Children Navigate This Critical Period

Article Excerpt:

The tween years can be an exciting yet treacherous time for a child. Beyond an increased awareness of physical and emotional changes, these 8- to 12-year-olds clinging to childlike innocence are pushed into the world of adolescence.

“Around these years, children begin to become increasingly self-conscious, and this often drives social difficulties that did not exist in their lives before,” said Dr. John Duffy, a Chicago-based clinical psychologist. “Of course, pushing the boundaries of freedoms and exhibiting new attitudes also arise during these years.”

Even though the tween years can test the strength and patience of the child and parent, it doesn’t have to result in a game of survival. The key to a healthy parent-tween relationship relies on a clear understanding of boundaries and the struggles and freedoms the tween is now facing on a daily basis.

August 28, 2011 - Posted by sphilpott | Feature Stories, Magazine Writing, Sample Work | dr john duffy, education, parenting, parents vs tweens, raising a tween, survival of the fittest