Preteen

25 Best Gifts for Teens 2024

25 Best Gifts for Teens 2024

Finding the right gifts for teens isn’t easy—but teens and tweens on your list will crack smiles when they open one of these trendy, thoughtful presents.

Today's Parent

My teen still plays with dolls

My teen still plays with dolls

And I'm totally fine with that.

Katy M. Clark

Constantly reminding and nagging? Here's when to let your kid fail

Constantly reminding and nagging? Here's when to let your kid fail

You could keep nagging and reminding your kids of their responsibilities. Or, you could let the natural consequence of their actions teach them something.

Lisa Kadane

How to give preteens space—without it totally breaking your heart

How to give preteens space—without it totally breaking your heart

Preteens need to start to separating from their parents so they can figure out who they are. This can be incredibly hard for moms and dads.

Nicole Slaughter Graham

12 reasons your friends with older kids are happier than you

12 reasons your friends with older kids are happier than you

Don't be jealous. Your day is coming. And when it does, your friends' kids will be smelly, hormonal, door-slamming teenagers.

Joanna Myers

These passive aggressive lunch bag notes say what all moms are really thinking

These passive aggressive lunch bag notes say what all moms are really thinking

Forget about putting gushy "I love you" notes in your kid's lunch bag. This mom shows her love with the thing tweens respond to best: sarcasm.

Kevin John Siazon

How to deal with a moody tween

How to deal with a moody tween

What to do when your sweet child becomes a door-slamming, eyeball-rolling, potty-mouthed preteen.

Christen Shepherd

Why your pediatrician should be asking your kid about depression

Why your pediatrician should be asking your kid about depression

New guidelines for pediatricians suggest universal mental health screening for kids at age 12. Here's how they can help your kid.

Liz Krieger

9 tips for growing strong girls

9 tips for growing strong girls

The tween years are particularly tricky to navigate as a parent—especially for those with daughters. Here are some helpful tips for growing strong girls.

Ceri Marsh

Micah Fowler of Speechless talks disability representation on TV

Micah Fowler of Speechless talks disability representation on TV

Lillie Lainoff

Guy Stuff: The Body Book for Boys is the puberty book that'll help your boy become a man

Guy Stuff: The Body Book for Boys is the puberty book that'll help your boy become a man

Following on the heels of their successful books series on puberty for girls, American Girl has finally released an edition that targets your little dude.

Kevin John Siazon

22 best kids' books for spring

22 best kids' books for spring

Watch your kid bloom into a voracious reader right before your eyes with these awesome kids' books hitting shelves this spring!

Emily Rivas

25 best kids' books for fall

25 best kids' books for fall

Kick off the school year with the best new kids' books for fall!

Emily Rivas

Not fitting in at school: How to help your kid

Not fitting in at school: How to help your kid

Preteens start to recognize there’s a pecking order to the social scene—and where they are fitting in to it.

Jeni Marinucci

How to Raise a Self-Sufficient Kid

How to Raise a Self-Sufficient Kid

From pouring his own drink to tying his shoe, little tasks set kids on the path toward being self-sufficient.

Rhea Seymour

3 tips for dealing with tween moodiness

3 tips for dealing with tween moodiness

How to navigate the stormy waters of early adolescence and tween moodiness.

Louise Gleeson

8 puberty books for boys

8 puberty books for boys

Have you had "The Talk" yet? Sometimes handing your son a book is a heck of a lot easier (and less embarrassing) for all involved.

Miriam Porter

Why you should talk to your daughter about oral sex

Why you should talk to your daughter about oral sex

Author and journalist Peggy Orenstein on why it’s important to talk to young girls about sexual pleasure and power.

Anne Kingston

Heads up, moms! The middle school years are the worst

Heads up, moms! The middle school years are the worst

A new study finds that moms with 12- to 14-year-olds had higher stress levels and depression than women with kids in different age brackets.

Emma Waverman

How to set up parental controls on Android devices

How to set up parental controls on Android devices

Before you hand over your tablet or smartphone to your kid, shield them with simple safeguards. Here’s how to set up parental controls on Android devices.

Derek Malcolm