Quick Click: 5 Don'ts for the Power Struggle Years

Stand your ground when your tween faces peer pressure.

• PRINT
• EMAIL

You and your pre-teen can be on the same team.

1. Don't give in to your child's demands because you want him to love you. He'll love you more for being caring and principled.
   
   
2. Don't criticize your child personally. Focus any concerns on specific behavior, choices, and disagreements.
   
   
3. Don't trample on your child's sensitivities or be critical of him for wanting to be like his friends.
   
   
4. Don't try to help your child win friends or seem "cool" by letting kids do risky things at your house.
   
   
5. Don't assume other parents are as relaxed about an issue as you. If another child is with you, check with his parents first for their viewpoint.

--Elizabeth Hartley-Brewer

Stand Your Ground: Refusing to Give in to Peer Pressure
Refusing to give in to peer pressure will help your child in the long run. Learn what to expect in terms of the peer pressure your child will experience. See how you can set limits and teach your child to do the same.

Preteen Mood Swings
Use this guide to navigate your preteen's mood blues. Learn what to expect and how you can help. Read about hormones, changes in judgment, and mood patterns.

How to Talk to Your Tween
Learn when and how to talk to your tween. Understand how the tween brain works and use these conversation starts to break the ice. See how you can take cues from your preteen, so you don't force the discussion.