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One day theyre crawling around in the sandbox; the next day theyre prowlingthe alleys of the castle. The teens like to think of themselves as all grown upbut they still need plenty of support and guidance from parents. Here are some tips: Girls may begin to develop breasts as early as eight, and some now get at ten. To prepare for puberty,many boys and girls bodies also bulk up in teen years. Experts warn against putting children on diets or making them feel about their weight. Instead, reassure kids that theres a wide definition of normal at this age. Classes get harder and homework increases as kids move to middle school and junior high. If theyre trying hard but still not doing well, parents should talk to teachers about potential learning disabilities that may require special instruction. Overall, parents should coach and support children in homework, but should never be trapped into actually doing it. For general catch-up, after-school tutors can help. For young children, family is the center of the universe. But friends and peer approval become increasingly important during teen years. Cliques emerge and fashion begins to define whats cool. Still, parents continue to exert the biggest influence on children when it comes to morals and lifelong goals. Get to know your childrens and their parent. Ask your kids about peer pressure, rather than waiting for them to raise the issue themselves. And act as a role model, exhibiting the kind of behavior around friends and family that you hope to foster in your kids. | 
