Tween health

By Mayo Clinic Staff

During the tween years, around ages 9 to 12, family relationships will change as your child grows and develops. Tween health issues can range from puberty to possible effects from too much screen time.

The start of puberty means a child's body is changing. This stage of life may include acne, gender questions and new types of social situations. Talk with your child about these topics when the time feels right.

Your tween also may start to use televisions, tablets and other screens more. But too much screen time combined with poor-quality content is linked with issues such as poor sleep and behavior problems. Learn how to limit screen time and monitor the content your child views.

Remember, your role is to help your tween learn how to make healthy choices for a lifetime. Talk with your child's health care team if you have any questions about tween health.

Children’s health information and parenting tips to your inbox.

Sign-up to get Mayo Clinic’s trusted health content sent to your email. Receive a bonus guide on ways to manage your child’s health just for subscribing. Click here for an email preview.

We use the data you provide to deliver you the content you requested. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, we may combine your email and website data with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, we will only use your protected health information as outlined in our Notice of Privacy Practices. You may opt out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the email.

Aug. 23, 2023

See also

  1. Antidepressants for children and teens
  2. Bullying Scars
  3. Car sickness in children
  4. Cast care
  5. Children and gender identity
  6. Concussion in children
  7. Herd immunity and coronavirus
  8. COVID-19 in babies and children
  9. COVID-19 vaccines for kids: What you need to know
  10. Distracted Driving
  11. Enterovirus D68 and parechovirus: How can I protect my child?
  12. Fish Science
  13. Heads Up Hockey
  14. HPV vaccine
  15. Iron deficiency in children
  16. BMI and waist circumference calculator
  17. Mayo Clinic Minute: Why and when children should be vaccinated
  18. Mayo Clinic Minute: Why concussion screening is important
  19. Mayo Clinic Minute: Why getting vaccinated for the flu is doubly important this season
  20. Medicine use in children
  21. Mental illness in children: Know the signs
  22. Motocross Injuries
  23. New School Anxiety
  24. Piercings: How to prevent complications
  25. Pubertal blockers
  26. Safety tips for attending school during COVID-19
  27. Limiting screen time
  28. Talking to your teen about sex
  29. Sports and Bullying
  30. Strength training for kids
  31. Sudden death in young people: Heart problems often blamed
  32. Tattoos
  33. Teen drug abuse
  34. Teen suicide
  35. Teens and social media use
  36. Test anxiety: Can it be treated?
  37. Vaccine guidance from Mayo Clinic
  38. Wiiitis
  39. Mayo Clinic Minute: Out of shape kids and diabetes
  40. Mayo Clinic Minute: Weight loss surgery for kids