Preteen
A
Preteen or
pre-teen refers to a stage of
human development during
childhood. Typically a preteen is nine years old or older and is not yet
adolescent (that is, has not yet undergone
puberty).
Preteens are developing a more realistic view of the world in several ways:
* More realistic fears (i.e. kidnappings, rapes, and scary media events, as opposed to fantasy things such as witches, monsters, etc.)
* More realistic job expectations
* More responsibilites, such as mowing the lawn, delivering papers, collecting firewood and shoveling snow
* More nuanced view of human relationships (i.e. they may notice the flawed, human side of adult authority figures more readily than they would at a younger age)
* A more developed sense of self and identity
* Increased feelings of independence
* More nuanced view of morality
* More mature, sensible, realistic thoughts and actions
While these traits may sound similar to those of teenagers, preteens think more similary to children than they do to teenagers, and these traits are still very undeveloped.
Many schools attempt to develop these feelings through the use of lessons tailored specifically to preteens' developing worldview. For example, debates on touchy moral issues (i.e.
abortion) are sometimes introduced in the upper elementary school grades, as are classes on current events.
Preteens are also known for their brand consumption, and are a heavily targeted market of many advertisers. Their tendency to buy brand-name items may be due to a desire to fit in, although the desire is not as strong as it is with teenagers. Many of these brands names fall under clothing and music.
Tween is a
neologism and
marketing term, especially in the
West, which means roughly the same thing as preteen; generally in the age range of 8 to 12 years old.
Marketers describe the driving
psychographic motivation of this group as desperately wanting to be a teen, but not about to stop being a kid.
Myers, James. "Tweens and cool"[
1],
Admap, March 2004.
