Rise Of The Tweenager – TEN Is Most Difficult Age For Kids Today

Forget the terrible twos or tantrum-filled teens – TEN is officially the most difficult age for modern children, according to a new study of parents.

A nationwide survey into the highs and lows of modern parenting has revealed as many as 86% of parents believe children are turning into stroppy so-and-sos usually associated with the teen years earlier than ever before.

In fact, more than half (52% ) complained that their tweenagers are more difficult than older kids – with girls emerging as the most challenging between the ages of 8 and 12.

Throwing toddler-like tantrums, becoming fussy with food, refusing to brush their teeth properly, and arguments over screen time, were the main signs of a terrible tween according to the survey – as was refusing to go to bed, being over emotional and not wanting to be seen with parents and grandparents.

Two-thirds of the parents polled said kids are becoming moodier earlier these days due to celebrity culture and social media encouraging them to grow up faster.

The poll of 1,001 parents with pre-teens, conducted by Aquafresh Advance, found that four in ten believe children are growing up more quickly as a result of their hormones kicking in earlier due to diet and environmental factors.

Trying to emulate older siblings, the pressures of school exams and their peers acting older than their years were also among the reasons why parents thought their kids were reaching adolescence earlier than they did and turning into demanding tweenager.

When asked how they deal with tween, 13% of parents admitted they ignore bad behaviour, insisting it’s just a phase, while 55% are more patient and think the best policy is to talk things through as much as possible. But a more robust 15% take a zero tolerance stance, playing hardball with their pre-teens when it comes to stroppy behaviour.

However, it’s not all doom and gloom, as according to those parents with older children, by the age of 16 both boys and girls have got over their tricky stage. In fact, the survey also revealed some positive aspects of having “older than their years” pre-teen children, with 59% of adults saying they had good conversations with their offspring. And more than half insisted that although their kids seemed grown up they were still not too old for a cuddle.

The research also indicates that more than one in five parents feel the trickiest age of all was the toddler stage, but 14% said nothing could compare to the stress of caring for a newborn.

Over two-thirds of mums and dads held their hands up and confessed to being a difficult teenager themselves but 33% maintained they were much easier as an adolescent. Six in ten parents who took part in the study believe their parents did a good job in raising them and were trying to replicate their mum and dad’s parenting style.

TOP 10 SIGNS OF A DIFFICULT PRE-TEEN

1. Throwing toddler style tantrums
2. Spending too long on tablets/phones
3. Being overly emotional for no reason
4. Refusing to go to bed at bedtime
5. Leaving their room in a state
6. Being messy
7. Being a fussy eater
8. Not wanting to be seen with parents/grandparents
9. Not wanting any affection
10. Refusing to brush their teeth