Children are typically considered tweens when they are between 10 and 13 or 14 years of age. After that time, they are generally considered teenagers, the horror of many a parent. Physical development during the tween period is rapid, yet uneven. It's helpful to understand the general process of tween physical development, though each child matures on her own schedule as her body needs.
Significance
Tween physical development prepares a child for the next stage in his overall development. He moves from simple childhood to the physical, mental and maturation challenges of teenage life. This period of growth lays the groundwork for healthy interaction with friends, family and food. Physically, tweenhood ends when a child's sex organs mature.
Function
Physical development ranges for a tween from simple growth to more abstract emotional and social development, due to the maturation of specific parts of the brain. The central nervous system continues to develop so that tweens have better coordination, balance, dexterity, agility and speed than they did as children. A tween may experience a startling amount of growth in height that is likely to continue into her late adolescent years. They also gain weight in preparation for puberty.
Considerations
These erratic growth patterns happen at a critical stage in a tween's life. Because many tweens "bulk up" in these years, according to the Penn State Cooperative Extension, you may be tempted to worry about their weight. In fact, this development is entirely normal. However, it also occurs at a time when girls and boys are particularly and painfully aware of the beginnings of peer pressure. Avoid putting your child on a diet or commenting on his weight. Instead, help your child make healthy food choices so that when puberty hits and the weight re-distributes, your child moves into adolescence with healthy eating habits.
Time Frame
Many children experience a surge in growth at 10, but this is entirely an individual process. Other children may not grow until later in tweenhood, perhaps as late as 13. On average, tweens gain 6.5 pounds and grow more than 2 inches a year between ages 8 and 13, according to the website Family Education. Growth spurts are real. Tweens can grow up to 1/2 inch in a 24-hour period. The best way to gauge your child's physical development is to know your child's genetic history and observe how he is developing. Don't compare your child to others his age, as each child will develop according to his body's dictates.
Potential
Because physical development at this age is rapid and uneven, don't wait to broach the topic of puberty and sexual behavior with your child. Make it an open and easy topic that your child can check in with you about at her leisure. A one-time conversation won't necessarily provide the information your child needs. Instead, make it a free-flowing topic that your child can touch on with you whenever she hears something from a friend or wants to check in with you.
