Tweens Who Crave Freedom of Expression.

There is a particular part of parenting that can be difficult.  When your child is between 9 and 12 years of age they seem to start pushing your buttons.  Tweens as they are often referred to are starting to feel  pressure in a different way.  Peer pressure and school can be more intense.

Maybe mom and dad are expecting more?  It can be a difficult age for any child.  Add a tween who craves freedom of expression you can find yourself arguing with a child over the silliest things.  

Pick up that napkin please.  They may respond with why?  Now it’s true that many kids of the tween years would comply without much fanfare, but there are those that seem to argue with everything you ask.  My wife and I found a  fairly straight forward way to deal with a tween who craved freedom of expression.  

We showed respect for their problem-solving skills and intelligence.  How you ask?  Well basically by giving them chores.  Showed them that they were expected to do chores in a specific way.  If they did not follow the rules then they understand that there are consequences.  

Also by approaching every situation without losing your own cool.  Help them understand that you can talk about a situation and come out with a solution.

 Gone are the days where it’s do as you’re told.  Show them strength and they will follow.

Taylor’s Law of Family Responsibilities states that if family members fulfill their own responsibilities and do not assume others’, then children develop into independent people and everyone is happy.