Talking to Tweens About Love, Sex and Relationships: Transition:
“Girls have a desire for connection, intimacy and safety. When we acknowledge this, we can help our teen girls meet this need in healthy ways. Most adolescents try to have their needs met among their friends. How they act out that intimacy imperative – particularly without guidance from parents – can lead to trouble. Gurian stresses that far too many parents abandon their parenting duties when their children transition to the teen years. Puberty is not miniadulthood. Many social scientists are decrying the trend of reduced parenting once a child hits middle school. Social research is actually saying that children need their parents, even if they don’t act like they do. A number of women tend to re-enter the workforce when their children become teenagers. However, in reality, the young teen years are frightening for children, and they need the stable presence of an adult.”
