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Let's Talk Tween

Information and insight about kids ages 8-12 (the "in between" years)

Stress

How to Prep Your Tween for a Move

Jennifer Powell-Lunder Psy.D. on July 21, 2023

Families often plan moves over the summer so their children can start the school year in their new school. Even if your tween welcomes the move, it is bound to be stressful.

Families often plan moves over the summer so their children can start the school year in their new school. Even if your tween welcomes the move, it is bound to be stressful.

Embarrassment

Crushed by a Crush: A Parent’s List of Do’s and Don’ts

Jennifer Powell-Lunder Psy.D. on April 3, 2023

How should parents react if their lovesick tween gets crushed by their crush?

How should parents react if their lovesick tween gets crushed by their crush?

Anxiety

My Tween Can't Take a Test

Jennifer Powell-Lunder Psy.D. on November 11, 2022

You were both positive she would ace the test this time. When you run to the door to ask her how it went, she puts her hand up as if pushing your question away. "I blanked again."

You were both positive she would ace the test this time. When you run to the door to ask her how it went, she puts her hand up as if pushing your question away. "I blanked again."

Anxiety

Helping Your Homesick Tween

Jennifer Powell-Lunder Psy.D. on June 19, 2022

Your tween is crying on the other end of the line, begging to come home from camp. Your heart breaks for her. You are paralyzed. What should you do?

Your tween is crying on the other end of the line, begging to come home from camp. Your heart breaks for her. You are paralyzed. What should you do?

Anxiety

School Avoidance: My Tween Won’t Go to School

Jennifer Powell-Lunder Psy.D. on March 5, 2022

Occasionally your tween told you she couldn’t go to school but the days began to pile up. Now you don't know how you will ever get your tween back on track at school.

Occasionally your tween told you she couldn’t go to school but the days began to pile up. Now you don't know how you will ever get your tween back on track at school.

Friends

Your Socially Sophisticated and Street Savvy Tween

Jennifer Powell-Lunder Psy.D. on December 2, 2021

Socially mature tweens usually present as wise beyond their years. These are the kids who always seem to be in the know.

Socially mature tweens usually present as wise beyond their years. These are the kids who always seem to be in the know.

Anxiety

Back-to-School Angst in the Age of COVID

Jennifer Powell-Lunder Psy.D. on September 3, 2021

As the Delta variant continues to cause a surge in cases, school-aged children everywhere are faced with a multitude of uncertainties.

As the Delta variant continues to cause a surge in cases, school-aged children everywhere are faced with a multitude of uncertainties.

Anxiety

Where Did My Happy Pre-Pandemic Tween Go?

Jennifer Powell-Lunder Psy.D. on July 5, 2021

If your tween seems less than enthusiastic about re-entering post-pandemic civilization, don’t panic: This is not as atypical as it might sound.

If your tween seems less than enthusiastic about re-entering post-pandemic civilization, don’t panic: This is not as atypical as it might sound.

Burnout

Pandemic Burnout: Your Tween Is Over It and So Are You

Jennifer Powell-Lunder Psy.D. on April 3, 2021

As a result of readjustments required during the pandemic, both you and your tween may feel hopeless, helpless, and burned out.

As a result of readjustments required during the pandemic, both you and your tween may feel hopeless, helpless, and burned out.

Anxiety

COVID Cocooning: Understanding Your Tween’s Isolation

Jennifer Powell-Lunder Psy.D. on January 19, 2021

To your tweens, the COVID pandemic may seem like an outbreak described in their favorite dystopian graphic novel.

To your tweens, the COVID pandemic may seem like an outbreak described in their favorite dystopian graphic novel.

Friends

What If I Hate My Tween’s Friends?

Jennifer Powell-Lunder Psy.D. on October 9, 2020

What should you do if your tween makes choices you don’t agree with? Making bad decisions is one thing, but concerns about who they pick as friends is something quite different.

What should you do if your tween makes choices you don’t agree with? Making bad decisions is one thing, but concerns about who they pick as friends is something quite different.

Anxiety

COVID-19: Understanding Your Tween’s Onset of Anxiety

Jennifer Powell-Lunder Psy.D. on July 9, 2020

If you or your tween suffer from anxiety, the road back to regular may indeed be quite difficult. The goal is to avoid allowing pandemonium and panic to block your path.

If you or your tween suffer from anxiety, the road back to regular may indeed be quite difficult. The goal is to avoid allowing pandemonium and panic to block your path.

Friends

Homebound: Managing the Monotony and Mayhem

Jennifer Powell-Lunder Psy.D. on April 20, 2020

The dog is barking, the dishwasher’s leaking, and your home-schooling attempt feels like an epic fail. The novelty of being at home all together wore off about a week ago.

The dog is barking, the dishwasher’s leaking, and your home-schooling attempt feels like an epic fail. The novelty of being at home all together wore off about a week ago.

Anxiety

Social Distancing: Making the Most of Life at Home

Jennifer Powell-Lunder Psy.D. on March 14, 2020

Your responsibility as a role model and guide cannot be underscored enough. If you present in a frenzied panic, your kids are sure to follow.

Your responsibility as a role model and guide cannot be underscored enough. If you present in a frenzied panic, your kids are sure to follow.

Anger

Is My Tween a "Mean Girl?"

Jennifer Powell-Lunder Psy.D. on December 24, 2019

Teenage girls can move through stages of relational aggression. Here are strategies for guiding them when you notice mean behavior.

Teenage girls can move through stages of relational aggression. Here are strategies for guiding them when you notice mean behavior.

Media

Keeping Up with Your Social Media-Savvy Tween

Jennifer Powell-Lunder Psy.D. on September 8, 2019

At the tender age of 12, she already knows her way around the digital world.

At the tender age of 12, she already knows her way around the digital world.

Deception

Your Lying Tween

Jennifer Powell-Lunder Psy.D. on June 9, 2019

The number of lies and tall tales a tween tells can seem excessive, and the reasons why they lie are varied.

The number of lies and tall tales a tween tells can seem excessive, and the reasons why they lie are varied.

Bullying

The Unintentional Cyberbully

Jennifer Powell-Lunder Psy.D. on March 7, 2019

The unintentional cyberbully does not have the same perspective as their unintended victim.

The unintentional cyberbully does not have the same perspective as their unintended victim.

Anxiety

My Tween's a Holiday Horror!

Jennifer Powell-Lunder Psy.D. on December 8, 2018

Do you cringe and hold your breath when it’s time to open the presents because you can’t anticipate your tween’s reaction?

Do you cringe and hold your breath when it’s time to open the presents because you can’t anticipate your tween’s reaction?

Confidence

Yes, You Are That Embarrassing!

Jennifer Powell-Lunder Psy.D. on November 13, 2018

As parents, we like to revel in the idea that our children are a reflection of us. In reality, however, this is not how tweens see things.

As parents, we like to revel in the idea that our children are a reflection of us. In reality, however, this is not how tweens see things.