Call them adolescents, call them middle-schoolers or call them 'tweens ' no matter the title, the crop of 9 to twelve-year-olds is just as self-conscious and awkward as ever. But what sets them apart from other generations is how tech-savy, tuned-in and trendy they are.
'Tweens are in between childhood and young adulthood ' meaning acne, training bras, crushes, first kisses, growth spurts and the first sprouts of facial hair that generally define the middle school experience.
On the emotional level, they're capable of good conversation and deep thought one minute and acting like kindergartners the next
said Betsy Anderson, an Athens Middle School teacher.
Uberconnected
Last Friday as the weather worsened, Athens Middle School was released early. To avoid a long line for the main office phone, a class was asked if anyone had a cell phone to call home. Only one student had to borrow a phone.
College-age students matured as cell phones gradually became the norm and saw the explosion of blogs and instant messenger. Today's 'tweens have grown up in a world already technologically established, never knowing a time without mobile devices and e-mail.
Before every kid was on the Internet or on the phone, children played with friends more in groups, said Teresa Franklin, associate professor of education at OU. With technology, they can be in contact with someone without being in the same room. This might affect their motor skills, which are perfected through play. It also changes the way they relate to one another.
Easy access to the Internet also gives bullies a new playing field. The Associated Press reported Monday that MySpace.com, e-mail, IM and cell phones have made it possible for 'tweens to send cruel messages instantly, from school or from home.
The traditional toy industry has suffered sales declines each year since 2002, and video games will be a permanent competitive pressure, according to a Standard & Poor's November report.
Anderson said her students have traded in toys for gadgets ' mp3 players and cell phones are popular with both sexes. Boys are hooked on Xboxes, PS3s and Wiis, while the girls always talk about their Xangas and instant messaging, Anderson said.
The challenge for this tech-savvy generation of youngsters is to sort out the information they find, said David Bower, assistant professor of education at Ohio University. It's not always in an age-appropriate format or 100 percent accurate.
A hot market
The 'tween market is worth billions of dollars in the United States, and constantly needs to be refreshed. Like any generation, 'tweens are into music, movies and clothes, but now there is also an emphasis on leading an extravagant life and being rich, Anderson said.
The popularity of shows such as MTV's Cribs and My Super Sweet 16 are fueling the fire. They see musicians, actors and athletes making a bundle of money and don't understand that this is not the normal lifestyle for most people, she said.
They're trying to dress like Paris Hilton and Jessica Simpson Anderson said. You could put some of my students in a college class and as long as they didn't open their mouth no one would bat an eyelid
but then again I can think of 10 or 12 students that still look like they're in second grade.
The freshest faces on the 'tween scene include The Naked Brothers Band, who although fully clothed, are real-life brothers starring in this Nickelodeon spin-off of the 2005 independent movie. Nat Wolff, the 11-year-old front man, has written over 150 songs that he performs with his brother Alex, 8.
Lizzie McGuire, which propelled Hilary Duff into the spotlight, has paved they way for other 'tween stars, such as Miley Cyrus, who stars in Hannah Montana as a pop star on the road.
'Tween stars are not only marketed as dually talented actors and singers, but also toys, bags and accessories. Raven-Symone, who played Bill Cosby's stepdaughter on The Cosby Show, stars in the Disney show That's So Raven. Her other 'tween rolls include a band member in both Cheetah Girls movies, voiceovers in The Proud Family and Kim Possible, and singing on the second soundtrack for Raven coming out this year. She also has her own fashion doll.
Getting older younger
Child actors insinuate sexuality on TV and in the movies, which needs to be addressed in schools, Franklin said. Kids are seeing things and asking a lot of questions
she added.
Because of the exposure to adult topics at a younger age, educational content continues to be taught in lower grades, Franklin said. We used to never talk about sex ed in fifth grade. Now we talk about it in third grade.
The Food and Drug Administration recommended vaccinating 11-year-old girls recently against the human papillomavirus, which is sexually transmitted. This evoked mixed views, and brought attention to the fact that children might be having sex at a younger age.
Talking to 10-year-olds about sex and alcohol might seem premature, but at-risk behavior, such as drug use and violence, occurs at a younger age than ever before, Bower said.
It's My Life (pbskids.org/itsmylife), the PBS 'tween Web site for kids ages 9 to 12, has an article reminiscent of OU's Alcohol EDU program.
Senior education major Kaitlin Daly is student-teaching at Athens Middle School. I was teaching vocabulary one day and used the sentence
'Because I indulged on my birthday
my stomach hurt.' I was talking about cookies and ice cream
but one kid shouted-out
'You had a hang-over didn't you?'
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