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Family Fun
Activities Your Preteen Will Love! By Teri Brown
Preteens are a delightful mixture of adulthood and childhood. At times, they cling to family. At other times, they are fiercely independent. Remember when they were small? They were up for any kind of family activity just because everyone was together. Things change! Now their agreeability often depends on the activity.
No wonder family activities are a mixed bag for them! But on the plus side, Kennedy-Moore says that preteens still need their parents, and family activities can be a wonderful time for bonding. "At the same time they seem to be pulling away from their families, preteens also desperately need the support and security of their families, who love them no matter what," she says. "Family activities can be a wonderful way of reinforcing a sense of acceptance and belonging for preteens."
- A great strategy for involving preteens in family activities is to allow them to invite a friend to come along, or better yet, the friend's entire family. In the company of a friend, your preteen is likely to be at his or her cheerful best. If the friend's family can come as well, it makes enjoying being with family members seem "normal."
