Back when they were little, I struggled simply to get to the end of the day with everyone fed, clean(ish) and mostly okay, I thought those would be the hardest days of my parenting life. Surely things would be easier when they were older, right?
I was right in some ways, parenting older kids is a lot less physical and a little less constant but it is not really easier, just different. As my children have moved into the tween/pre-teen years I’ve struggled more with how to guide them. I worry about how they are behaving, how they are doing at school, who their friends are, if they have good self-esteem and ultimately, who will they become?
Parenting tweens certainly is a learning curve! We’ve lived through the tween years with two of our four children, with the third right in the middle of the tween years right now, and along the way I’ve collected lots of practical ideas and suggestions for navigating this new phase of parenting. You’ll find lots of great hints and tips across a range of tween topics in the posts listed below.
Parenting Tween Tips
What is a tween? Our definition of a tween or tweenager and how they are changing
Top Tips for Parents of Tweens: 9 helpful parenting suggestions for the tween years
Parenting Digital Natives: Tweens and Technology
Connecting With Tweens and Teens: 5 everyday moments that matter to staying connected with your tween
Tweens and Puberty: Helping your child navigate the changes that puberty brings
Tips for Avoiding Tween Battles Over Chores
Activities for Tweens
An A to Z of Boredom Busting Activities for Tweens
32 Tween Art and Craft Projects
15 80s Movies to Watch With Your Tween or Teen
Whatever age my kids are, I still breathe a great big sigh of relief at the end of the day that we all have made it through without any major catastrophes, so I guess some things never change – whatever age your children are!
Kate Fairlie is an early childhood educator and Mum of four who lives on a small property, 'The Pickle Farm,' in 'almost rural' Victoria. Kate blogs about all kinds of crazy things - twins, gentle parenting, gardening, trying to be a little self sufficient, activities for kids, a recipe here and anything else that pops up in her crazy life!
