Emotional Development and Expression
As your child approaches the teenage years, they will develop a better understanding of their feelings and will be better able to express them. When your child was younger, she may have been angry but unable to tell you why. Now that she is a tween, she should be able to tell you why she feels a particular emotion.
Tweens, Emotional Development and Moods
One of the downsides to the tweens years are the frequent mood swings. Emotional development and the tween years aren't easy for tweens or indeed for their parents. Children of this age face increasing pressure at school and in social situations. They also experience confusion and anxiety over puberty which explains the mood swings. Hormone changes caused by menstruation are one of the major causes of mood swings in girls. Boys experience anxiety over puberty, school, friendships and girls. Mood swings can occur quickly and unexpectedly, but usually don’t last long.Moody tweens frequently require time alone in order to cool down and put things into perspective. If you find that your child struggles with mood swings, help her find a way to deal with her emotions in a positive way. She could try listening to music, reading a book or going for a walk.
Tween Girls May Feel Self-Conscious
A large part of your tween’s emotional development is the development of self-awareness. As your tween develops she will become more aware of the world around her, she may become self-conscious about her appearance, her clothes and just about anything else. During the challenging tween and indeed teen years, girls are likely to compare themselves with their peers, images they see in magazines, on television and in the movies. The sad fact is that many girls believe they aren’t as talented, pretty, smart or likeable as other girls. It’s important to reassure her that there is nothing wrong with her and to make sure she knows she always has your love and support.
Emotional Development and Reasoning
As your child grows she will begin to display signs of sophisticated reasoning which is another major milestone in emotional development. Your child will begin to think more like an adult which can make communicating a little easier and a little more difficult.
The more your child understands, the easier it will be to get your point across to her. However, expect some challenges when your tween uses her newfound skills for reasoning as a way to negotiate with you or when she starts to challenge your decisions.
Emotional Development and Romantic Feelings
Tweens may begin to develop romantic feelings for others as young as age eight or nine. Tweens are generally not considered to be emotionally mature enough to handle dating, but they may talk about who they want to date, and even mention school friends who are dating.
It’s not advised to forbid your tween to date, as that will only serve to encourage her to rebel against you. Instead, allow your tween to mix with members of the opposite sex in groups, providing they are of the same age. It’s ok to allow your child to think about dating but don’t encourage it until they are emotionally ready.
