Children between the approximate ages of 9 to 12 years of age are called tweens. In the past, this stage was often referred to as “that awkward stage” or preteens. This is not only an awkward time for the youngster but for the parent as well. Here are a few things to consider when helping your child adjust to his new level of maturity.

How does a parent deal with the in-between stages of a preteen? This is a complex issue, and one which parents of all preteens are facing today. While a parent may refer to their kid as “my baby,” it is necessary to come to the realization your baby is no longer a kid, not yet a teen – for both your sakes.

The period of transition between children and teens is a difficult one. As their personality changes, they may no longer come to you because their individuality is beginning to emerge. With individuality comes the feeling they can figure things out on their own. As part of the change, you may find them becoming more restless, accompanied by moodiness and unsure of what they are doing at any given time.

They may exhibit signs of peer pressure which only aggravates their existing feelings of inadequacy or conflict within. They may suddenly dress differently in order to conform to the dictates of the group they most associate with. Their rooms, which were once clean and neat, may become strewn with clothing, scattered everywhere. This is typical of the problems preteens face as they try to find where they belong in the scheme of things.

The best thing you as a parent can do is talk to your kids. Keep the lines of communication open. Don’t berate them or try to control them; they will resist. Find a middle ground wherein you can talk openly with them, and assure them that you went through a similar stage when you were their age. Don’t preach, but listen to what they are saying and how they are saying it.

Often, they may be unable to articulate what they are feeling. Give them time and they will eventually come to you for advice or help. Love them in spite of their actions, and remember they are going through an ordeal which they can neither explain nor comprehend.

When your child is no longer a kid and not yet a teen, there will be trials and tribulations along the way. As long as you are there for them as their safety net, and allow them to find their way knowing you are there to catch them if they fall, the process will be easier to bear for them as well as you.

Pick up your Mom’s Talk Guide to Raising Happy & Healthy Kids – Tips and resources address nutrition, exercise, sleep, routines, and much more.

With the rise of childhood obesity, it’s becoming more and more apparent how important exercise, sports and extracurricular activities are to your child’s health. Here are a few ideas to help you find ways to keep your children active and healthy.

On any given day in the school year, except very cold or rainy days, you will find kids engaging in outdoor sports in the schoolyard. Whether it’s basketball, tennis, volleyball or soccer; kids are lining up and signing up to be able to participate in sports supervised and taught by teachers.

There use to be a time when the only sport we engaged in as kids was jump rope. Today, it’s a different “ballgame.” While their lunch time is only 40 minutes, it only gives kids about 20 minutes of play time outdoors. But after school, there are kids waiting in the wings for their teacher to arrive to begin the lessons.

Some days, tournaments are held for kids who have advanced in a particular sport and members of the school staff. It’s a wonderful way to keep kids out of harm’s way and involved in friendly, sportsmanlike activities that keep them healthy and fit. The discipline they learn will help them achieve success in their studies as well.

Sometimes during the year, all the school kids are taken to the local park for the day and can really enjoy a great game of baseball or football with members of the staff. During the summer, some teachers offer sports clinics and droves of kids sign up for the opportunity to spend additional time with their teachers playing sports they love.

With the educational system still evolving, it is important to continue after school activities and provide funding for kids who, under most circumstances, would not have the opportunity to participate.

In addition, some states have a Boys and Girls Club which provides sports activities during the summer as well. But it is the after school activities that kids want and need and everything should be done to ensure these activities continue.

Pick up your Mom’s Talk Guide to Raising Happy & Healthy Kids – Tips and resources address nutrition, exercise, sleep, routines, and much more.

With busy work schedules and home responsibilities, parents can sometimes forget how important it is to get to know their child’s teacher. Here are a few reasons you might want to make an extra effort to get to know your child’s teacher.

Several times during the year, there are parent-teacher conferences, as well as Meet the Teacher Night. In order for parents to become more involved in their child’s education, attending these events is very important.

Although Parent-Teacher Conferences occur in the fall and spring of each school year, it is a good idea for parents to establish a relationship with their child’s teacher from the outset by providing a phone number at home and work so the teacher can reach the parent at any time.

Schools send letters and informational material throughout the school year, which delineate not only the school calendar of events but important dates such as testing, parent-teacher nights, and other important dates which are either sent via the Chancellor or the administrator of the school. In most cases, the child is given the information to take home to the parent. Unfortunately, some children never give the information to the parent, who is then left in the dark.

This is why on-going communication with the child’s teacher is so important. While some teachers make an effort to contact parents regarding their child’s progress, others take the time to write home to parents as well. It is highly recommended that parents seek out their child’s teacher in the beginning of the school year so that later on they will be able to discuss any and all issues regarding homework, report cards, and test scores.

There are occasions when parents become dissatisfied with the response time from teachers, and rightly so. This is where the Parent Coordinators’ intervention enables parents to meet with Assistant Principals, Principals, Guidance Counselors, and the school-based support team, if necessary, to ensure they are receiving up-to-date information about their child’s progress.

With the No Child Left Behind Act having been established, more and more parents are becoming involved in their children’s education. Whether as volunteers or in other school-related capacities, parents have taken a key role in their children’s education including: working with their child’s teachers throughout the school year, becoming members of the Parents Teachers Association, and providing input as to how to best improve not only the school environment, but the education of all children as well.

Pick up your Mom’s Talk Guide to Raising Happy & Healthy Kids – Tips and resources address nutrition, exercise, sleep, routines, and much more.