by Paula Atwell

Created on: May 08, 2009

Dealing with preteen girls is a very complicated and tricky journey that every parent of a girl must make in their child's lifetime. In our world today, being a preteen is almost like what being a teenager was a generation or two ago.

One of the biggest issues is physical development. Girls can start to develop physically as early as 8 years old, and many more girls are becoming physically mature at a much younger age than their mothers and grandmothers did. There are many theories as to why that is happening, but that argument doesn't change that fact that girls begin to experience the changes in their bodies, and the impact of hormonal changes on their emotions much earlier than we may believe.

Girls have always started to develop physically younger than boys do, and that is still true, so girls tend to have more self-confidence issues regarding their changing bodies, and emotions which can be exacerbated by teasing from other children. Even in the absolute best school and home situation, most girls will run into that type of peer pressure at some time in their lives.

Although preteen girls are often emotional, and moody, it is not natural for them to be depressed or giddy for more than small amounts of time. If you find that your daughter or another preteen girl that you know seems to be excessively moody, you should investigate gently or ask a school counselor to talk to her. Sometimes it is helpful to have a counselor with you when you try to talk to the child to deflate the emotional issues.

Although preteens like to have some secrets, it is important to communicate frequently with preteens and let them know your expectations. Make sure that they know you want to keep tabs on what they are doing and who they are doing it with. Let them know that you are concerned with their safety and as a parent or guardian you feel it is necessary to know what is going on. It is much better to stop problems while they are still minor, than to let them simmer unnoticed.

Preteen girls are one moment babies, and the next moment adults, and they are confused about the world around them. They need a lot of guidance in how to interpret what people say, what is truth and fiction, and how to take gossip and hearsay. They are at the beginning of an emotional storm, and need to know that they are loved, and that you are the steady guiding influence that they need as they make their way through countless small and large moral decisions as they begin to become adults.

But don't forget although they may be adult sized, they are still children with the need to cuddle, be hugged, and to play to exhaust their energy.

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