Tweens: What to expect from - and how to survive - your child's pre-teen years By Andrea Clifford-Poston (Oneworld, 9.99, 1-85168-380-1, 020 8855 0320) Reviewed by Deborah Sharpe, out-of-school clubs manager for Sussex Downs College, Eastbourne This book gives an insight into problems and issues pre-teenage children face today, while illustrating how the age category 'tweens' has evolved as a result. It covers rebellion and behavioural issues including how to set boundaries, communication, peer pressure, bullying, alcohol, eating disorders, sexuality, stepfamilies, exam stress, moving to secondary school, and many other relevant issues. Each chapter is subdivided into useful categories. For example, 'Sex, Drugs and Rock 'n' Roll on a Diet' has sub-headings covering the need to take risks, risks for parents, stealing, smoking, drinking and drug taking, the obsession with computers, eating disorders, and under-age sex and promiscuity.
Tweens: What to expect from - and how to survive - your child's pre-teen years By Andrea Clifford-Poston (Oneworld, 9.99, 1-85168-380-1, 020 8855 0320) Reviewed by Deborah Sharpe, out-of-school clubs manager for Sussex Downs College, Eastbourne This book gives an insight into problems and issues pre-teenage children face today, while illustrating how the age category 'tweens' has evolved as a result. It covers rebellion and behavioural issues including how to set boundaries, communication, peer pressure, bullying, alcohol, eating disorders, sexuality, stepfamilies, exam stress, moving to secondary school, and many other relevant issues.
Each chapter is subdivided into useful categories. For example, 'Sex, Drugs and Rock 'n' Roll on a Diet' has sub-headings covering the need to take risks, risks for parents, stealing, smoking, drinking and drug taking, the obsession with computers, eating disorders, and under-age sex and promiscuity.
Case histories and quotes keep the information interesting, although as these are in the margins the layout is unsettling. I found myself reading the advice first and then having to look in the margin for the case history it relates to.
But it is a valuable reference book which would be useful for playworkers and others working with tween-aged children.
