No matter how old your children are, parenting is a tough job. It is important to remind yourself that you are not alone. There are many resources available to help you through any situation, such as, library books, internet chat rooms, or school counselors.

The pre-teen years are beginning earlier in many kids today. At one time pre-teens were considered to be between the ages of 11 and 13, now they begin as early as 8 years old for many kids. This means you must establish a pre-teen plan very early on. Many people wonder why this transition is happening earlier, but actually it is a fact that some children begin their development around this age. The changing bodies bring about changing attitudes both of which are stemming from changing hormones. These hormonal changes are beyond any parent’s control.

This means that talks about things like sex, drugs, puberty and so forth need to take place during this time frame and for many parents it seems like these kids are just too young, however that truly is not the case. If you choose to prolong talking to your child about these and other issues facing teens of today, then they will more than likely become educated about these topics from their friends. In order to get the communication flowing, you want to keep it open ended, answer your pre-teens questions honestly, and let them know that they can come to you with any and all issues that they face.

As a parent, it may be difficult to address these topics head on and discussing them openly and honestly, however it is one of the most important things that you can do to let your child know that you are there for them and that their feelings and issues are not only important to you, but a natural part of the growing up process. This kind of supportive environment can really help as your children go through the preteen and teenage years.

Fostering an open and honest relationship is very tough for some parents, however it is very important for your peace of mind and theirs. With all of the changes in the world today it is important that you have a better understanding of your teen and what dilemmas they may be faced with. For those issues that you don’t fully understand, remember the many resources that are available to help you and your teen through these challenging years.