Instagram: Where Tween Girls Hangout

The ever-illuminating Rachel Simmons has just posted a piece on Time.com titled "The Secret Language of Girls on Instagram". It's a must-read item for all parents of tweens. Rachel discusses how girls' social currency and status is cultivated on Instagram and what parents need to understand about the platform (hint: it's not just for sharing pics).

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An Online Support Group for Parents of Tweens, Teens

We just got word of a new online support group for parents of tweens and teens. It's run by the University of Wisconsin, Madison and is called My Parenthetical (get it?). The site offers recent research, Q&A, blog posts, and an opportunity to post questions to a discussion board. The entire site is moderated by family researchers at the University. Some posts that piqued are interest are discussions related to homework tips and how to balance setting boundaries with granting freedoms. Pretty cool, in our books. Check it out!

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45% of Teens Would Change Their Online Behavior If They Knew Their Parents Were Watching.

The online security company McAfee has just published their annual report on "Teens and Screens", and the findings are prescriptive for us as parents. While most social networking sites' Terms of Service limit usage by tweens, many tweens use them anyways.  See below for a great infographic summarizing the report's findings; highlights from this report include:

• Nearly half (45%) of teens said that they would change their online behaviors if they knew that their parents were watching. Do you know how your tween behaves online? Do you know their virtual friends and hangouts?
• Nearly half (49%) of teens regretted something they've posted online - this despite being told that anything posted online is forever (yes, even SnapChat).
• More than half (52%) of teens do not turn off their GPS or location services on their smartphones. This means that online strangers can find your teen IRL (in-real-life).

For LOTS of tips on how to approach tech with your tween, check out our article on Creating a Family Technology Policy.

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Bar Mitzvah Fashion - 13 Year Old Tween Zeke Aspires to Esquire Style

It's not often that one hears about tween boys and fashion in the same sentence, so we were pleasantly surprised to stumble upon this post by 13-year old Zeke in Esquire magazine.  Not only does Zeke have style, but he can write to-boot! Check out his quest for the perfect, modern yet young bar mitzvah suit.

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Tween Designer Launches Line at Nordstrom

Be prepared to learn a new name in fashion: Isabella Rose Taylor. She's a twelve-year-old tween from Austin, TX who just sold her line to Nordstrom. The retailer will be carrying Ms. Taylor's line for the Back to School season this year and just showcased it at the fashion trade show WWD Magic Show in Las Vegas last week.

According to the young designer, “My clothing collection targets tweens/teens. I am designing for my peers. We want to be fashionable but we also want to be comfortable. My current Spring/Summer 2014 Collection mixes fun prints and patterns for what I call a hippie-grunge vibe.”
Below are a few pieces currently available from the designer's website:

Downtown Jersey Sweatshirt, $45

Silver In a Cinch Dress with magenta exposed zipper, $40 (on sale)

Very, very cool!

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Sign the Petition to Create a Disabled American Girl Doll of the Year

Loyal readers know that we are HUGE fans of American Girl. That's why we were so moved to learn about the petition by tween sisters Melissa and YingYing Shang to lobby American Girl President, Jean McKenzie to create a disabled American Girl doll.

Melissa is 10 years old and has a form of muscular dystrophy - and she's also a huge American Girl fan. In her words, "Girls of the Year have helped me understand how it feels to be someone else. However, none of the American Girl Girls of the Year are like me. None of them have a disability."  Melissa writes about how American Girl has helped her to learn what it's like to be a girl who has a passion for gymnastics (like McKenna) or art (like Saige). She'd love for the company to help tell the story of other American girls like her who have a disability.

We think that Melissa is spot-on and that creating a disabled American Girl doll will only help to further the company's mission to teach empathy and inspire girls around the world. To sign Melissa's petition, go to Change.org

You can view a message from Melissa herself here:

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Tweens, Selfies and Royals

If your tween loves selfies, she's in good company - royal company, even. Check out Prince William and his selfie with 12-year old tween on Christmas Day: http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2013/12/prince-william-tween-rare-royal-selfie

image via SWNS

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