Preteen
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A Preteen or pre-teen refers to a stage of human development during childhood. Typically a preteen is eight years old or older and is not yet adolescent (that is, has not yet undergone puberty).
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[edit] Psychological development
Preteens are developing a more realistic view of the world in several ways:
- More realistic fears (i.e. kidnappings, rapes, and scary media events, as opposed to fantasy things such as witches, monsters, etc.)
- More realistic job expectations
- More responsibilities, such as mowing the lawn, delivering papers, collecting things from friends or relatives and shoveling snow in winter
- More nuanced view of human relationships (i.e. they may notice the flawed, human side of adult authority figures more readily than they would at a younger age)
- A more developed sense of self and identity
- Increased feelings of independence
- More nuanced view of morality
- More mature, sensible, realistic thoughts and actions
- Gaining knowledge of Sexual intercourse
While these traits may sound similar to those of teenagers, preteens think more similary to children than they do to teenagers, and these traits are still very undeveloped.
Many schools attempt to develop these feelings through the use of lessons tailored specifically to preteens' developing worldview. For example, debates on touchy moral issues (i.e. drugs or alcohol) are sometimes introduced in the upper elementary school grades, as well as classes on current events.
Preteens are also known for their brand consumption, and are a heavily targeted market of many advertisers. Their tendency to buy brand-name items may be due to a desire to fit in, although the desire is not as strong as it is with teenagers. Many of these brands names fall under clothing and music.
[edit] Tween
Tween is a neologism and marketing term, especially in the West, which means roughly the same thing as preteen; generally in the age range of 8 to 12 years old.[1]
Marketers describe the driving psychographic motivation of this group as desperately wanting to be a teen, but not about to stop being a little kid.[citation needed]
[edit] Notes
- ^ dictionary.reference.com/. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Retrieved on April 1, 2000.
[edit] References
Myers, James. "Tweens and cool"[1], Admap, March 2004.
| Preceded by: Childhood |
Stages of human development Preteen |
Succeeded by: Adolescence |
