Self-confidence, physical fitness, improved memory and more energy are some of the benefits of exercise for children and preteens, according to Take the Magic Step. About 12.5 million children and adolescents between the ages of 2 and 19 years of...
Healthy eating is vital for preteens because their bodies are going through periods of rapid growth and development. A key component of proper development is obtaining adequate amounts of vitamins and minerals through the diet. A healthy diet also...
The childhood years of 8 to 12, when a child is a preteen, are an important time of physical changes and development. Preteens are transitioning out of childhood and headed toward puberty. Body changes, emotional expressions and increases in...
Cheerleading can be very beneficial for preteens. It is a great way to stay physically fit, and studies show that girls who participate in organized sports activities have more confidence, make better choices and even experience more success in...
Many preteens do not need to take a multivitamin supplement if they eat a healthy, well-balanced diet. Those who have a restricted diet, are picky eaters or have a medical condition that interferes with the absorption of certain vitamins and...
It's not uncommon for preteens to struggle with acne. According to KidsHealth.org, approximately eight in 10 preteens and teens struggle with this skin condition. Acne includes whiteheads, blackheads and pus-filled bumps. For preteens, these...
Preteens need an adequate amount of nutrition each day to develop properly. This time in their lives involves a substantial amount of change in regard to their bodies, so good nutrition should be a priority. To ensure proper nutrition, preteens...
Most kids need at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. Regular physical activity can help lower the risk of becoming overweight or obese. The number of preteens in the U.S. who are obese more than doubled from the 1980s to 2006,...
The importance of a healthy well-balanced diet begins at birth and continues throughout your life. If you introduce your young children to a healthy diet, it benefits them immediately as well as teaches them good eating habits they can follow in...
It's no longer unusual for a preteen child to be overweight. Even though less than 7 percent of children ages 6 to 11 were considered overweight in 1980, that number tripled to nearly 20 percent as of 2008, according to the Centers for Disease...
Many teenage girls spend most of their days slouching behind desks, slumped on the couch, or hunched over a computer. In fact, the average American teen spends more than an hour on the internet and more than two hours watching TV every day,...
Foods with high amounts of added sugar can cause spikes in blood sugar followed by sensations of drowsiness, sleepiness and irritability. Foods that are labeled with a high glycemic index pose a particular risk to preteens who may not have access...
No matter what age you are, to lose weight you have to burn more calories than you consume. The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention recommends kids get 60 minutes or more of physical activity a day. Getting rid of excess belly fat will help...
Preteens can benefit significantly from physical activity -- in fact, children and adolescents who exercise more often and participate in fitness activities will be less likely to grow up overweight. Preteen exercises can include warm-ups, aerobic...
Preteens undergo confusing changes from ages 9 to 13, confusing both to themselves and their parents. Parents may find it hard to deal with the push and pull of a preteen's desire for independence one moment and her need for reassurance the next....
After years of birthday party hats, birthday cake and children's party games, most preteens want something different--something distinctive and that everyone will remember for a long time to come. Peer acceptance is more important at this age than...
During the preteen years, between ages 9 and 12, your body is getting ready for some major changes as it prepares to enter puberty. During puberty, you may experience a rapid growth spurt in height and weight, your body shape will change, and...
Struggling with overweight and obesity can be especially difficult for preteens because they may be teased at school or feel social pressure to eat unhealthy foods if their friends are doing the same thing. A strong support network can make all...
Acne is a common skin disorder that vary in severity depending on your skin and genetics. Acne also can affect anyone ranging from those in their elderly years to as young as in their preteens. A preteen can experience a wide range of severity...
Lifting weights can help people of all ages to achieve their exercise goals. Although lifting weights has a wide range of benefits, bodybuilders may focus specifically on the development and definition of muscles. While you may not experience the...
The preteen years can be a minefield when it comes to weight gain and health, notes the Baylor College of Medicine. Putting on weight is likely your preteen's way of preparing for a major growth spurt and puberty. If your previously slim child has...
Losing weight can be difficult for preteens, especially when you have little or no say over what meals you eat at lunch or at home. According to MayoClinic.com, losing weight requires a calorie deficit between the foods you eat and the amount of...
For a parent, the idea of your preteen child being exposed to a flood of text messages can seem disturbing and a challenge to your authority. That said, texting is part of the modern world -- and in the long run it can be good for your child to...
The preteen years are a time when children can start building friendships that will last a lifetime. While some children have friends they have known since the early childhood years, the preteen years are a time of strengthening friendships and...
Obesity rates among children ages 6 to 11 jumped from 6.5 percent in 1980 to nearly 20 percent in 2008, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports. Obese youth are at a greater risk of high cholesterol and high blood pressure, which...
Preteen girls involved in strenuous sports activities, such as running, must pay special attention to dietary concerns and the amount of exercise they receive. A 2005 article in the "International Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism"...
Bed wetting, or enuresis, usually stops for children before age 6, but it continues for many youngsters until the teens. The cause may include slow development of the bladder, genetics, difficulties in waking up, lack of a hormone that controls...
Lying is a stage that most children go through at one point or another. When your preteen is developing a Pinocchio complex, there are some things you can do to reduce the lying habit. It is important to first determine if lying is related to...
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the prevalence of preteen obesity has increased from 6.5 percent to 19.5 percent in the past 30 years. Obese kids are at a greater risk of developing high cholesterol, high blood pressure and...
There are an estimated one million teen pregnancies each year in the United States alone, so it is very important to discuss teen pregnancy. Learn how to talk to children about teen pregnancy in this parenting video.