And now that the sunny vacay plans have arrived, the brighter, longer days inspire regular visits to your local leisure center pool-plus wild swimming adventures. Summer is here, and it means an influx of water-based fun.

Let us separate facts from myths with the period swimwear. Swimming, while you are on your period, is not unhygienic, and you will not leave a trail in the water.

This makes skipping pool parties and swimming classes a thing of the past. The period-proof swim bottoms are here to save the day. Your tween can officially take a dip without worrying about surprise leaks or visible Tampax stains.

Read on to know how to swim on your period, no matter how heavy the flow.

What Is Period Swimwear?

Will you tell the difference between period swimwear and regular swimsuit bottoms when your tween is with her peers on the beach? We didn’t think so.

Period swimwear looks exactly like regular swim bottoms, the only difference being that it contains a hidden lining that helps absorb your tween menstrual fluid and protects against leakage.

And yes, the period swimwear has been specifically designed to work underwater. It is excellent for providing a backup solution if your tween uses menstrual cups or tampons. Some menstrual swimwear also has room for a pad.

Period swimwear is designed for your tween to use while swimming during periods, incontinence, or vaginal bleeding. Period swimwear differs from period underwear in that you can swim with it.

How Does Period Swimwear Actually Work?

Are you the type of woman who believes that period and swimming don’t mix? Well, your tween, you can still go for swimming classes, as she relaxes in the water, as we all know that it works wonders (being inside the water) when you are cramping, feeling ‘period bleurgh’ or bloated.

A period-proof bathing suit can hold up to 10ml (two tampons’ worth) of menstrual blood. It has upper and lower leakproof mesh technology (others have three layers). The triple-layer gusset absorbs your tween’s flow and detects leaks when she is in and out of the water.

The upper mesh layer is meant to fight bacteria and stop any smell, as it is the absorbent layer. Thanks to its antimicrobial technology, which helps wick away moisture and sweat while neutralizing odors.

The second layer is a super-thin, highly absorbent liner that holds the power of three tampons or pads. The bottom mesh layer is water-repellent because it is made from recycled nylon. This helps prevent your menstrual blood from flowing into the water around you, as much as it prevents the water from getting in. The bottom layer is also chlorine-resistant and UV50 plus-rated.

This tween bathing suit will “kill” the story of the dye our parents used to tell us would show up if you dared wee in the water! Some period bathing suits are “period and pee friendly.”

Your tween might want to ensure that the swimwear sits snugly under her vulva. When the period swimwear has no space around her legs, no water will get in.

This period swimwear will protect your tween from pelvic floor mishaps, light period, and spotting.

Can Anyone Tell It Is Period Swimwear?

No one can tell when your tween is wearing her period pants for swimming. This is because the swimwear’s absorbent gusset is very discreet that even she has to look very closely to notice the lining. It is thin and not bulky at all.

The only time someone might notice that your tween is wearing period swimwear is if they also own the same type of swimwear.

Best Period Swimwear For Tweens

Disclosures: We are participants in the Amazon Associates program and other affiliate programs that earn us a commission if a qualifying purchase is made. Some of the links below are compensated affiliate links.

Modibodi Teen Swimwear Bikini Brief

The Swimwear Bikini Brief from Modibodi is an affordable period bikini bottom that your tween can pair with their existing bikini or tankini tops.

This bikini is available in navy and black, and in a limited-edition hibiscus flower and wavy pink if your girl prefers a pop of color.

They are best for light flow (10 ml) and are designed specifically for younger bodies. Sizing starts from a girl’s size 8-10 through to size 16-18.

Find it on Modibodi

Knixteen Period Swim Sport One-Piece

The period-proof sport swimwear from Knixteen is great for your tween girl as it has a variety of trendy colors and prints. If your tween has not gotten the hang of using tampons, then this period swimsuit one-piece got her!

It is a sleek one-piece that will leave your tween girl feeling hot and forgetting all about her periods, as it is for medium absorbency. With this period swimsuit for swimming, your tween will swim freely and fearlessly on her period.

Available in size XXS, suitable for your smallest tween who’s already started her period.

Find it on Amazon

Ruby Love Teen Period Swimwear Ruffle Set

Who can guess that this hot tween period swimwear ruffle set is secretly doing the job of three tampons! This gorgeous swim set from Ruby Love will allow your tween to swim and surf worry-free and in style.

This swimwear is made up of 80% nylon and 20% spandex, with a leak-proof layer that is two layers of 100% absorbent cotton and dri-tech mesh.

Available in sizes XXS, ideal for young girls just starting their period, all the way through to ladies.

Find it on Ruby Love

Period Swimwear – Black Menstrual Leakproof Bikini Bottoms

This tween swimwear from Savvi Wear Store has extra leakproof protection, style, and comfort for your tween to enjoy while in the water. It is a quality period-proof reusable swimwear with light-moderate absorbency.

With a bamboo lining, it perfectly absorbs and fights smell for your tween’s best hygiene with no period smells. It’s a tween’s period swimwear ideal for menstrual periods, discharge, and spotting. It is easy to clean and machine wash friendly BUT remember not to use a fabric softener.

You’ll find sizing all the way down to 3X-small.

Find it on Amazon

Knixteen Period Swim High Rise Bikini Bottom

Period swimwear for tweens that is high-rise is the thing. They have risen in popularity for offering more coverage than traditional bikini bottoms. These high-rise bikini bottoms from Knixteen claim to soak up three teaspoons of blood with zero leaks or drips.

The period swims twist high-rise bikini bottom will ensure that your tween is comfortable during all her outdoor activities that involve splashing around in the water. With a wide size range starting from XXS, it is perfect for your tween to choose from.

Find it on Amazon

Ruby Love Period Swimwear Skinsuit

We are always concerned about sun safety when our tweens are on the beach. That is no more with this period swimwear skin suit that has more coverage, helping protect your tween from the harsh and dangerous UV rays.

With a comprehensive nylon/spandex fabric, this Ruby Love swimwear keeps everything in place while the organic cotton absorbs up to three tampons’ worth. It is flattering, with a high neck, a super-comfy fashion zip, and a rush guard. It is available in large and junior sizes starting from XXS.

Find it on Ruby Love

Beautikini Athletic Period Suit

The Beautikini athletic period suit for tweens is great as it provides them with the most personal protection in their dancing, fitness, swimming, and other sports. It has an absorbent midsection that is equivalent to two tampons’ worth.

The Beautikini swimsuit is designed to replace other femcare products that your tween uses while swimming.

It can, however, be used with tampons or menstrual cups for extra protection as it is made from high cotton fabric, making it soft and breathable.

Find it on Amazon

RED Recycled Swimwear One Piece

If your tween needs swimwear that supports up top and down low, check out this Modibodi one piece that promises protection from light-moderate flow and spotting both in and out of the water.

The Modibodi Red feels like regular swimwear but with a built-in patent-pending lining to absorb fluids and fight odor and bacteria. To activate the gusset tech, you must wash it before you wear it after purchasing.

Available in youth size 8-10, this is an ideal first period swimsuit for a tween (light to moderate flow, 10ml).

Find it on Modibodi

Ruby Love Teen Period Swimwear One Shoulder

Your tween can’t wait to wear this new off-shoulder ruffled swimsuit from Ruby Love!

It is a stylish and discreet swimsuit that no one has to know that your tween is on her period. It is a slim and flattering fit that holds up to three tampon’s worth, and no one will ever find out.

Find it on Ruby Love

Ruby Love Teen Period Swimwear Tank Set

If your tween needs protection but wants to look cute, this Ruby Love two-piece that comes in a handful of colors is the right tank set for her.

It has adjustable tie bottoms made with dri-tech mesh liner ensuring no leakage from all sides and even allowing room for a pad as backup protection.

Available from XXS its a cute and stylish swimsuit solution for your tween girl who wants to be confident in the water this summer.

Find it on Ruby Love

More Advice for Tween Periods

Getting ready for your little lady’s transition to womanhood? Helping parents and tween girls on their journey through menstruation, you may also want to read:

• Our guide to helping your pre-teen daughter prepare her first period kit
• How to track periods – best period tracking apps for tweens
• Picking the best pads for a small tween girl just starting out
• When should tweens’ first be using tampons? Our honest views on suitable sanitary products for beginners

The post Perfect Period Swimwear For Tweens: Top Trends for Summer 2026 appeared first on Tween Parent | Family Lifestyle Blog.

Ever since we hit the tween stage – we’ve found it’s getting harder by the day to put the screens down and encourage regular outdoor activity with our older kids.

The warmer weather is approaching, and we have an action plan for this summer!

We’re sharing with you here our favorite outdoor activities. Some are for enjoying the backyard; others will require more equipment and adventures beyond the home.

You may also be interested in our favorite gift ideas for outdoorsy tweens

Tween Activities to Enjoy in The Backyard

Disclosures: We are participants in the Amazon Associates Program and other affiliate programs that earn us a commission if a qualifying purchase is made.

Photo Scavenger Hunt

Allow your tweens to create a scavenger hunt outdoors and do what they love most “taking selfies!”

A photo scavenger hunt for tweens is a great outside activity. It will help them learn teamwork as they cooperate to solve the problem. It will also help boost your tween’s self-esteem as it offers a sense of achievement, and it is also super simple to put together.

This excellent learning tool includes 30 sheets that let your tween spot up to 25 things in the great outdoors. They are flexible and can be used in camps, field trips, vacation trips, and outdoor parties, and you do not have to worry about them getting damaged as they are made up of high-quality paper that is sturdy and durable.

Nature Crafts

Nature activities for tweens such as weaving, carving, or pottery are great for your tweens as they help build their imagination skills and relax them. It can range from making things skillfully with their hands to messing themselves out with paints.

Nature crafts are a fantastic creative way for your tweens to self-express. They manage their feelings and improve their confidence and self-esteem, learning patience, concentration, planning, and foresight as they hone their motor skills.

Some easy nature crafts for tweens to learn include:

• Rock painting
• Pressed flowers
• Windchimes
• Birdhouses
• Suncatchers

Find it on Amazon

Find it on Amazon

Walkie Talkies

Between phones and portable music, it’s hard to remember how magical walkie-talkies are for our tweens. Walkie-talkies provide a fun outdoor game for tweens as they still have to utilize their imagination for fun play to enhance its use.

These hands-free walkie-talkies support long-range calls for your tweens as they play in the backyard or hike in the mountains.

Find it on Amazon

Find it on Amazon

Trampoline Tricks

There is no end to the fun trampoline tricks your tweens can come up with. You can also get involved in outdoor entertainment with your kids as you do fun things on the trampoline. The fun games include: crack the egg, horse, trampoline dodgeball, monkey in the middle, and more.

A trampoline will help your tween exercise thanks to its endurance-building workout. It’s also a great way to enhance your tweens’ muscle development, strengthen bones, and reinforce joints.

If they’re ready for a new challenge, why not add a basketball hoop?

Even if you don’t have a huge yard, there are still plenty of fun tricks and exercises they can enjoy on a smaller balcony or porch trampoline.

Obstacle Courses

An obstacle course for your tweens is excellent as it will offer a great range of workout activities, all the while having fun.

With this ninja obstacle course, your tweens can learn how to climb the net, climb the ladder, spin the wheel, and also freestyle using the rings it comes with.

Obstacle courses will benefit your children in sensory processing, strength and balance, coordination, memory and problem-solving, and motor skills.

You can also challenge your kid’s creativity as you have fun in the backyard and use available tools and objects to make your obstacle course! That is half the fun! 

Rock Climbing

Are your tweens driving you up the wall indoors? Get them outdoors doing what they do best!

These tree climbing holds are the perfect tool to get them to test their dexterity outside. Even if you don’t have the perfect tree in the yard, try an external wall on the house to get them pushing and challenging themselves.

Backyard Games

One of the quickest ways to get our tweens in the outdoors is getting out there ourselves.

An entertaining and competitive game set will always do the trick. Backyard games will help keep you and your kids active as it boosts their physical stamina and fitness. (Not to mention bringing out the competitive inner child in all of us!)

Find it on Amazon

Find it on Amazon

Garden Camping

What tween doesn’t love a little more independence? Getting them a garden tent will help them satisfy the feeling of “grown-up.” Garden camping will allow them to set things up the way they love as they practice the long-deserved independence they always crave.

As they assemble and put up their tent, they also learn problem-solving skills and adventure.

A garden camp will also increase their self-confidence by encouraging them to appreciate nature. They will also learn how to unplug and enjoy the simplicity of nature (as long as they’re set up far enough away from the wifi!)

STEM Experiments

Why not look for a backyard activity for tweens to provide learning as they enjoy it? Perfect, right? As your tweens enjoy this blastful rocket that soars up to 100 feet while lightening up the sky, they can also get to learn today’s technology and science behind the “why” and “how.”

This STEM outdoor activity kit is excellent as it will help them understand the physics of motion and aerodynamics. As your tween stomps the extra-large foot pump, they practice balance, fine motor skill development, physical exercise, and scientific exploration.

Find it on Amazon

Find it on Amazon

Making Dens/Hideouts

Making hideouts and dens is a great outdoor summer activity for tweens as it’s their absolute favorite thing in the world. Well, for my boys, it is!

The activity of making dens will help your tween learn to be creative with pegs, sheets, shower curtains, chairs, tables – anything they can get their hands on really that you don’t mind going outside and possibly getting dirty.

Den building will help your tween develop physically, learn teamwork and cooperation, and develop social skills, as their independence and self-esteem grow while having fun.

One built, they also have the perfect getaway outside to hide from siblings – and you! – in the great outdoors.

Water Fights

Water games never grow old, even for your tweens. And not only will these water fights keep kids cool in the hot summer, but they will also help them learn how to improve their balance and coordination.

Rather than simply squirting each other, set up some more challenging and fun party games – or if you’ve got the facilities to do so, why not host a pool party? Through plenty of fun inflatables and pool toys into the mix – you’ll be surprised what skill they actually take!

Giant Bubbles

Think kids have outgrown bubble wands? Oh, you better believe it. This one can totally transcend ages! You’ve simply got to make it more challenging and fun as your kids get older.

Giant bubble wands will challenge your older child’s dexterity and creativity.

Gardening

Are you looking for a healthy and prosperous outdoor activity for your tween? Gardening it is.

Your tween is ready to be responsible and care for the veggie or flower patch they love. And as your tween’s garden grows, they develop responsibility, critical thinking, self-esteem, and gratification.

Your tween weeding the garden, pruning the shrubs, and watering may lead to a lifelong passion and career (and quite possibly a few extra coins in their pocket as a thank you!)

Find it on Amazon

Find it on Amazon

Photography

Photography is a great outside activity for tweens as it helps promote creativity and self-expression. It also helps manage stress and promotes fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Your tween will create and keep memories with friends as it boosts mood and increases happiness.

Rather than just using the built-in camera in a smartphone, why not get your tween their first digital camera so they can start learning how to shoot in manual mode?

Add some fun by challenging them to create some trick photography shots. Can they make their friends look smaller than the dog? Or how about making the house look like a giant bottle is crushing it?

Find it on Amazon

Find it on Amazon

Sports And Hobbies Outdoor Activities For Tweens

Ready to head beyond the yard for some outdoor fun this summer? Let’s see if any of these outdoor sports and hobbies will take your tween’s interest:

Hiking

Hiking is a fun outdoor activity and a great way to get some fresh air but even our tweens still need a little encouragement to hit the trails at times.

Having them equipped in the right gear will certainly help, from comfortable trail shoes to waterproof jackets in case the weather turns. A small hydration pack will help them keep up their energy levels.

We need to make our children feel they are not forced to march by including games and activities when we hit the trails. Add in activities like scavenger hunts, take along a digital camera or binoculars to capture the action, or let them be in charge of the map to motivate older kids along.

Find it on Amazon

Find it on Amazon

Scooters

Scooters are wheely good fun! Bringing your tweens outdoors for races and relays is a brilliant way of engaging those competitive kids out there.

When they have a more grown-up 2-wheel scooter there are plenty of possibilities for tween fun outdoors. Not only their own set of wheels for visiting mates, some pro scooter models work great in skateboard parks, too for testing their stunt skills.

Find it on Amazon

Find it on Amazon

Boogie Boarding

Live close to water? Boogie boarding is a great outdoor physical activity for your tweens that has physical benefits and helps your kids become confident swimmers.

It is also great as it allows your tween a level of independence as they build confidence in the water with their friends. Even if there are no big waves to catch, they’ll have fun learning how to balance or being pulled along by their friends.

Paddle Boarding

Paddleboarding is a solo endeavor that is water fun and a great beach sport for tweens and teens. It’s a healthy outdoor sport that offers the opportunity for family time and bonding.

This sport will help your tween learn how to balance as it involves core stability and strengthening of the whole body, one of the best outdoor sports for an all-over workout testing body and mind.

Mountain Biking

Almost every kid has a bike, but what sort of bike does your tween need? Getting a mountain bike to conquer the trails as they race with their peers will be an excellent sport for your adventurous tween. Learn to master how the gears work in your favor and control your speed from flat roads to hills.

Find it on Amazon

Find it on Amazon

Camping Trip

A camping trip is great tween fun, even for a night. The fun-filled adventure in a new environment and setting makes it a great outdoor activity for all your family.

Tweens especially will enjoy many new skills they can acquire. Why not ask them to help pick the perfect spot to pitch your tent, assist with the fire starting, and keep critters from getting in the tent?

And, of course, no one can resist toasted marshmallows and s’mores around the campfire, right?

Kite Flying

Outdoor fun doesn’t get more simple for tweens than flying a kite. Sure, it sounds easy, until they’ve gotta go it alone!

Getting your kite airborne and caught in the breeze is trickier than it first sounds but once they get going, there’s loads of fun your tweens can have playing kites.

They won’t realize that they’re actually problem-solving, working on hand-eye coordination, and peripheral awareness, all while keeping their body active outdoors.

See how a selection of different-shaped kites will affect aerodynamics! It is the perfect activity for kids looking for a step up from paper planes.

Find it on Amazon

Find it on Amazon

Skating

Learning how to skate has its thrill that your tween will enjoy with his friends. Roller Skating is among the best physical activities to get your tween to exercise and have fun at the same time. It is excellent for cardiovascular health and helps build your tween’s physical endurance.

Roller skating is also great as it helps encourage brain development while lightening your tween’s mood and reducing hormones that cause frustration and mood swings.

Find it on Amazon

Find it on Amazon

Geocaching

Geocaching is an outdoor recreational activity where your tween has to locate hidden containers (geocaches) outdoors and share their experience online. It uses a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver or mobile device.

Your tweens must be creative with what to hide in their geocache container and where they hide it.

Kayaking

Kayaking is a great outdoor activity for your tween to undertake with their peers. In this sport, your tween and their friends do not focus on winning or losing but on challenging themselves each time they go on the water while enjoying themselves.

It’s a great bonding sport that gets your tween outdoors and helps them build their upper body strength as they become more independent and responsible.

Dog Walking

OK, so you may have flat right refused to get the kids a dog, or it’s simply not practical with your living arrangements and lifestyle. But what about offering your neighbors a dog walking service?

There are plenty of dog owners who work all day and may be strapped for time to take their pooch out to play. Once your child understands the basics of doggie care (and cleaning up), they’re almost certainly ready for the responsibility of dog walking.

If they do a good job, there’s a fair chance they’ll earn themselves a little spare change too for spending on other fun activities!

Star Gazing

One of our favorite recent memories has been nights spent at Grandad’s house out in the countryside, where the skies are unpolluted and blanketed in stars. Your tweens are the perfect age to learn how to use their first telescope and grow an appreciation of the vast night skies that surround us.

Not only will they appreciate being able to stay up later at night, the exhilaration of spotting a shooting star, or identifying the planets can be an incredible and memorable childhood experience.

Find it on Amazon

Find it on Amazon

Importance of Getting Tweens Outside

I’m not going to pretend that getting your tweens to jump into action and get outside immediately will be easy.

Trust me, I know. I’m as guilty as any of thinking, “As long as they’re not disturbing me and we’re all enjoying what we’re doing, what’s the rush?”

Cellphone addiction and excessive screen time are truly becoming an issue, particularly for this pre-teen age group. Sometimes it takes far more than just instructing “go outside” to break habits and reap the benefits of outside time – for all of you!

Even if you don’t consider yourselves an “outdoorsy family,” there are many good reasons to ensure outside time remains an important part of your family’s routine.

It helps increase fitness levels for our tweens (and often us by default while we’re joining in!).
Exposure to nature can diminish stress and anxiety levels.
It helps our tweens become kinder and better at interacting with others in social settings.
Outdoor games for tweens also provide sensory and intellectual stimulation, enhancing concentration, creativity, and general performance.
It encourages our children to take risks and push their boundaries.
Getting tweens outside will also help them get the sunshine they much deserve (and need – hello Vitamin D!)
And the best one is that it helps reduce screen time for our tweens.

We hope this list has inspired you with new ideas to get your older kids outside this summer.

Some of these activities are great solo pursuits. Others are best undertaken with friends and family, however, you like it. Outside time is vital for everyone in a society increasingly reliant on screens to reconnect.

It need not be a chore but something fun to look forward to – you could even ‘gift’ one of these activities as an experience.

We’d love to know what other outdoor activities your tweens love; let us know in the comments below!

The post 25 Fun Outdoor Activities For Tweens to Try This Summer appeared first on Tween Parent | Family Lifestyle Blog.

Smartphones and other electronic devices have been incredibly helpful, especially for activities like arranging pick-ups and keeping track of our tweens. However, it’s important to recognize when our relationship with these devices becomes unhealthy.

Excessive phone use can cause a number of health issues, from muscle and posture issues, eye strain and headaches to obesity; your child’s device usage needs to be addressed before it gets out of hand.

What happens when we start to see signs of addiction in our tweens? What steps can you take as a parent to ensure smartphones and electronic devices are being used for their correct purpose rather than becoming your child’s lifeline?

Here we’re going to look at 5 key tips for keeping your child’s relationship with their phone healthy.

5 Steps to a healthy relationship for tween phone use

1. Set Phone Restrictions

One of the best ways to deal with excessive phone use is to simply restrict it.

This will undoubtedly cause a battle, to begin with, but like overcoming any addiction, there will be discomfort before results. You may want to start with a gradual approach if going “cold turkey” will be too uncomfortable for your family or simply impractical.

You could start with a gradual restriction of use. For example, ensure mealtimes are cellphone free for everyone. As everyone gets used to this, extend this to time-limited starts in the morning and a cutoff point in the evening.

An overnight cut-off point to ensure they get a good night’s sleep is a non-negotiable.

There are many good parenting control apps you could use to set these time limits, such as Family Link if you’re using an Android device that connects with your Google account, or there are Screen Time settings built-in on iOS to manage your child’s device.  

2. Set Aside Phone-Free Days

Once your tween starts getting used to restricting their phone use, you can introduce phone-free days. Typically, these should be family days where the focus is on spending time together, so there is a distraction in place, and you’re ‘in it together”.

These don’t necessarily need to be a full 24 hours, but long enough, they get a significant screen break and enjoy an activity outside the home. Maybe you can set a rule on how long they have to check their phone when they get back home, but whilst you’re on your family day out, nobody checks their device. You might be surprised just how much this benefits you too!

3. Let Them Use Just One Device at a Time

How many times do you catch your tween using more than one screen? One eye glued to their phone while the TV blares away, or YouTube playing on their laptop while browsing through TikTok?

One screen is bad enough, but when they are using multiple screens at the same time, it’s not only excessive but unhealthy.

So, if they are doing homework on their laptop, don’t allow them to check their phone. Similarly, their phone should be tucked away on the charger or in another room if they want to watch a movie.

4. Keep Phones Out of Bedrooms

I am sure it’s not just the kids who are guilty of this! Do you charge your smartphone next to your bed and use it as your alarm clock?

It’s no surprise our tweens may develop this habit too, checking their phone first before having any human interaction with family.

Set up a charging station in your house where all devices are kept overnight. No one should be touching these then until morning greetings have been made and tasks completed, such as getting dressed or having school bags packed.

Find it on Amazon

Find it on Amazon

Find it on Amazon

5. Limit Their Access to Social Media

Whilst this could also lead to many battles and comparison warfare, the reality is most social platforms are not intended for the pre-teen age group. Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok all have an age limit set of 13 or 13 plus.

That said, I’m sure any tween brought up in the current generation knows how to download and access these. When setting up a new device for a tween, it’s essential to set the ground rules on what apps they’ll be allowed to access and when.

If you are making a conscious decision as a parent to allow them to bypass age rules on these platforms and have it on their device, usage needs to be closely monitored or completely restricted.

You can set restrictions on the phone so that certain apps can only be used during specific times of the day, for example.

Getting your tweens to spend less time on their phone and electronic devices these days isn’t easy. However, it is necessary if you want to promote healthy development and habits that they will see into their teenage years.

You may also be interested in reading our detailed guide to tweens and technology
If you’re in the market for tween tech, these are our top picks for gifts in 2023

The post 5 Tips for Dealing With Your Tweens Excessive Phone Use appeared first on Tween Parent | Family Lifestyle Blog.

Tween is short for “Tweenager” – a made-up word really for that “in-between” stage from early childhood to hitting puberty and becoming a teenager. The moniker “tween” is believed to date back to the 1980s.

There is no strict definition of age, but generally, it’s accepted to mean kids that fall in the 9 to 12-year-old age group (though there are plenty of definitions that describe it as 10 to 14 years of age, others say it starts as young as eight).

Whilst the teenage years are most commonly associated with growth spurts, mood swings, attitude changes, and of course puberty, tweens have their fair share of physical and more importantly emotional development needs that need to be met too.

Pre-teens, pre-adolescents, call them as you will; some kids will glide slowly and gracefully through this childhood phase with few changes in their demeanor, while others will confront the tween years front on and with full abandon.

Tween Developments and Changes

It can certainly catch us parents off guard when habits and moods in our little child suddenly start to change. Some of the changes that may occur during early adolescence include:

Mentally – During the tween years, our children’s brains are going through a period of fairly rapid growth and development. Far more capable than their younger peers in reasoning, problem-solving, and anticipating consequences, but often still in a self-centered way.

Socially – Where parents/caregivers and siblings are very much the center of their world in the early years up to about 7 or 8 years old, tweens will start to gravitate more towards their peers. The need to ‘fit in’ will become far more prevalent and friendship dynamics can change.

Physically – Toward the later part of the tween years, don’t be surprised by sudden growth spurts, endless eating, increased sleep, weight gain, and changes in physical appearance. Not to mention hair growing in funny places, growing genitals, and the onset of menstruation in girls.

Independence – Once they would immediately turn to a parent or adult for help, there is a far greater desire to ‘work it out’ for themselves, even embarrassment if you try to interject – or stand close to them in public.

Responsibility – Along with this independence is the granting of responsibility; perhaps to look out for their siblings for short periods, to run an errand for you, or to clean their own room. It will vary vastly by the child, but most will have the CAPABILITY, if not the desire, to be seen as responsible.

Top Tips For Parenting Tweens

Whilst most of us probably read endless books and articles on the early childhood years, once our kids are happily off to elementary school, we tend to put down the parenting manuals and rely much more on our parenting intuition.

It’s fair to say you may require a small (or big!) change in your approach or parenting style once you hit the tweenage years. There’s a delicate balancing act between keeping your kids close whilst giving them the independence and responsibility they need to prepare them for adolescence thoroughly.

Here are just a few pointers for parenting tweens to consider:

• Pushing the boundaries – Be ready to set limits and stick with them, but include your tween in the reasoning process, or it will just feel like rules for rule’s sake. Explain why a certain rule needs to be implemented and let them contribute to where a boundary should be set.

• A united front – This is also the age where children realize that they can quite consciously pick one parent over the other to raise their issues or get things their way. Whether parents are living together or not, it helps to decide important matters together.

• Pick your battles – Oh, how many times have you heard this? Just when you thought it was over letting your toddler wear his Batman costume for three days straight, you need to take the same approach with your tween too. Set the rules firmly and fairly, but decide which ones matter when they’re broken.

• Perplexing personalities – Budding football star one day, fashionista the next. They are truly working out their place in the world, and what was ‘cool’ one day will make them a laughing stock the next. Be prepared for these rapid changes in interests, be supportive, and go with the flow.

• Give them room to expand new hobbies- Be it sports or a new computer game they want to try – but connect with them about it too. Offer to come and watch their games, ask how they felt they played that day, or what did they enjoy today about that online game (I have a far more intimate knowledge of Minecaft than one ever would have thought necessary for a grown adult that’s never played the game!)

• Don’t dish out on their modern role models – Sure, we’ve got no idea who that YouTube star is or can’t stand that song they keep on playing, but it’s THEIR interests forming part of their personality. Be involved, question, guide on what’s appropriate, but don’t pay out or be overly judgmental when it isn’t needed.

• Affection deflection – Cuddles and kisses may not come so quickly and easily once they hit the tween years. It doesn’t mean they don’t love you just the same or get some pure joy still out of those deep warm mama hugs; it just means there’s a time and a place for it.

• Personal space – On the same lines, there will be an increased need for their own time and space and some privacy. Make sure family timetables aren’t so packed they don’t get any of that ‘me time’ they might crave, and they have somewhere at home to call their own.

• Increased workload – Expectations don’t just change at home when it comes to chores and pulling their weight, but at school, too; subjects become more challenging, and homework expectations change. This can add to their overall mental load, and they may need help organizing competing demands from home, school, and friends.

• Be puberty prepared – Although we may think of puberty being a teen parent issue, tween girls especially can hit puberty early. Don’t assume they will learn everything they need to from school, or heaven forbid TikTok; guide them to accurate and reliable resources if they are too embarrassed to ask their questions directly (We have a good guide to online parental and tween health resources here).

• Role model good behavior – Basically, practice what you preach; if it’s healthy to get exercise and fresh air every day and not be stuck on a screen, all of you should do it! And life doesn’t have to always be serious, show them you can still muck around and goof off in fun and respectable ways – growing up doesn’t need to be boring!

Whilst the tween years may not seem like the most stressful compared to all the other ages and stages a child goes through, they’re certainly the most formative of their childhood. It’s where personalities develop, where habits become set, and views on the world around them are formed.

It can be a roller coaster but a fun and amazing one if you’re prepared to jump aboard and enjoy all those ups and downs!

More Tween Parenting Reads

If you’re entering the murky water of tween parenting and seeking out a little more guidance, you’ve come to the right place. Up next, you may want to jump into one of our most-read tween parenting blog topics, including:

How to deal with your tween’s excess phone usage – rules for your whole family to live by
Has your young lady’s mood and demeanor changed? How to cope if you think your tween girl is now the mean girl
Let’s face it; a time will come when you need to start having some awkward conversations with your son – here’s how we’d tackle those touchy subjects.
Is your daughter reaching puberty early? Here’s how to discuss first bras and prepare her for menstruation
Why it’s important to also talk to our sons about girls’ periods
Positive ways to discipline tweens without the domestic battlelines being drawn

So Tell Me More About Tween Parent

In our little corner here of the internet, tweenparent.com hopes to arm parents with the confidence they need to get them through the tween years. From helpful resources to gift shopping guides, a little spot on the internet dedicated to the pre-teen years and preparing you for the teen years ahead.

Pleased to have you on board!

If you’d like to see our latest tween parent guides as they’re published just pop your email at the bottom of this page.

The post What is a “Tween”? Tween Meaning Explained appeared first on Tween Parent | Family Lifestyle Blog.

Most parents worry a lot about finding the best pad that will work for their tweens. And yes, your tween daughter will need you to educate her on pads and tampons before the time arrives to adjust comfortably to the changes of puberty.

Luckily for your tween, there are many pads to choose from. However, the difficulty lies in finding “the right one” that will fit her yet to fully mature body.

With time, your tween will learn all about her menstrual flow and find a safe and comfortable sanitary pad that will be a game-changer for her. The right pad will help her feel confident during what can often be a difficult phase of growing up.

TL;DR – these are the top three pads we recommend for first periods:

Find it on Amazon

Find it on Amazon

Find it on Amazon

Girls’ periods usually start between the ages of 9 to 12, and we need your tween to be prepared for when the day comes. While your tween might have come across a pad either from you, friends, health classes, or TV commercials, be sure to explain that they are meant to help manage periods and stay clean and dry while menstruating.

Types Of Pads

Pads are rectangles (or more like surfboard-shaped!) absorbent inserts that attach to the inside of a tween’s pants to catch menstrual blood. They are also referred to as sanitary pads or sanitary napkins.

Some of the pads have extra material on the side (“wings”), which fold over the edges of your tween’s underpants, helping to hold the pad in place and prevent leaking.

Your tween should change her pad every 3-4 hours, even if your tween has light flow. Your tween girl might need to change her pad more often with heavy flow. Two types of pads do the same job, but they are used a little differently:

Disposable Pads

Most of these pads have a sticky strip along the bottom. Your tween should peel off the paper strip that covers the adhesive and press the pad into the crotch of their underwear. If the pad is “winged”, she wraps the wings around the bottom of the crotch.

When it is time to change or remove the pad, your tween will unstick the pad from their underwear and wrap it in toilet paper, tissue, or the wrapper of the replacement pad. Your tween should then dispose of it in the trash can or a safe disposable bag and wash her hands thoroughly.

Emphasize to your tween that pads are not to be flushed down the toilet as this may cause toilet clogging and make a big mess.

Reusable Pads

Your tween will need to wash these pads every time she wears them. Its concept is the same as that of a single-use disposable pad. These pads are designed to snap or clip securely onto a girl’s underwear and absorb their menstrual flow. They are by far more environmentally friendly but require a lot more work.

Features of Tween Pads

Tween pads are similar in design and function to regular pads, with the important difference being their size.

Tweens have smaller bodies; therefore, tween pads offer more comfort and convenience of use. You should also consider the following features;

• Organic Cotton; when choosing the right pad for your tween girl, remember that she is especially susceptible to hormone imbalance and infections; therefore, ensure their reproductive organs are not exposed to tainted cotton.
• Absorbency; for your tween, springing a leak during her period is embarrassing times ten and then squared! When choosing a sanitary pad for young girls, make sure it features superior absorbency. Even if larger and less comfortable, if she is experiencing a heavy flow, she may need a full ladies’ pad with additional absorbency in the first day or two; smaller “teen” pads we will cover here are only designed for a medium flow.
• Odor and Bacteria Control; Your tween might be familiar with the negative impact of having a tampon on for long. But does she know how long a pad should last? If your tween wears her pad for too long, there’s a greater chance of bacteria multiplying inside the pad, which may result in unpleasant odors and may be a cause of skin rash and nasty infections.

Tip for buying pre-teen pads

Your tween will experience heavy and light flows. The first few periods may be light, with only a few blood spots. Most periods last from three-five days, but anywhere from two to seven days is normal.

She will probably need to use 3-6 sanitary pads for girls per day, although it might be fewer on her lighter days. In the first couple of days and at night, your tween might prefer more extended, thicker pads or pads with wings to avoid any leakages.

Even in between periods, she may have noticed a heavier-than-usual discharge. If this concerns your girl, by all means, she might like to wear a panty liner throughout her non-period days to prevent any staining and embarrassment.

Also, do not forget to ensure that your tween can access sanitary pads at home should they get there when you are not around. You can place different period pads in their room or the bathroom.

Best Types of Pads For Tweens

So now we know what our tween needs; what are the best types of pads your tween should start out with? These are the best types of pads we’ve found widely available and catering to smaller bodies.

Best Day Pads for Tweens: Always Radiant Teen Pads

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Always Radiant Teen Pads are one of the leaders in making pads specifically designed for smaller bodies. Their Size 1 pads are ideal for day use by girls who would be a lady’s Small or Extra Small in clothing.

These pads are comfortably thin for your tween and will keep them leak-free throughout an entire school day. Thanks to the broad Flexi wings, the pad stays in place and will not slide around. The leak guard core absorbs in seconds.

What’s more, the always ultra-thin is unscented with my fit strip for your tween to tailor their pad to fit their flow and panty size. If they find these are not absorbent enough, you can step up to size 2.

Runner Up Best Tween Pads: Pinkie Period Pads

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Designed specifically with tweens and teens in mind, the Pinkie Period Pads are ideal for smaller-bodies girls, with sizing down to youth underwear size 8.

Their ultra-thin pads come in mini, small, and regular, each in a drawstring baggie with a cloth-like wrapper for convenient disposal, too.

We love that there’s no fragrance, chlorine, or bleach, with an ultra-snug fit to your girl’s growing body.

Also Consider: U by Kotex Security Ultra Thin

Find it on Amazon

U by Kotex Teen is another excellent pad for your tween, as it is a hypoallergenic period pad. It is made without perfumes or lotions and is free of any pesticide or elemental chlorine. It also features a soft cotton cover making it gentle and breathable on your tween’s skin.

Most importantly, Kotex Teen products are uniquely sized for smaller bodies. Their ultrathin pads are still high absorbency using their unique Xpress-DRI Core technology, and they come with wings to hold the pad in place. 

(NB – Kotex used to stock a “tween” range too, but it looks like these have been discontinued).

Best Tween Pads For Overnight: Always Ultra Thin Pads Size 4 Overnights

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With the Always Ultra-thin overnight, your tween will soon discover that a larger, heavier flow pad is still required in the first few days while sleeping. Larger doesn’t have to mean thicker though; technology has come a long way. You can still capture leaks with an Ultrathin pad.

It is unscented and HSA/FSA eligible in the USA with Flexi wings to ensure your tween gets enough eye shut without any leaks. It’s one of the best pads for tweens to use at night.

Best variety pack of pads for tweens: Asana Girl Unscented Pads

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If the package reads girl, it is an excellent choice for your tween. The Asana Unscented pad is a combo pack that includes four heavy sanitary napkins, three mini pads for all-day protection during your tween’s lightest and heaviest days, and five regular pads.

Their sanitary napkins are made with hypoallergenic, breathable sheets that help alleviate irritation, blisters, rashes, itchiness, and chafing. This combo with wings also helps your tween balance her PH and hormone levels reducing menstrual pain and cramping naturally. It’s a great first-period sample kit.

Best Pads for Sporty Tweens: U by Kotex Fitness Ultra Thin Pads

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If you have a sporty tween girl, there are more considerations you may need to take into account when choosing the best pad to fit her needs.

We love that U by Kotex also comes in a Fitness line of ultrathin pads. They’re not as short as the “teen” range of pads we mentioned above, but they are uniquely shaped for active young ladies.

They contain the same Xpress DRI Core that absorbs quickly and wings to minimize leaks but remains discreet beneath their tight workout clothing.

My First Period Sampler Kit

Remember, just because you’re brand loyal to a particular type of pad, it won’t necessarily be the right fit for your tween. She will need to experiment for herself.

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A My First Period Sampler Kit will provide your pre-teen girl with the opportunity to test several different brands at once to see which fit she finds best.

Containing Size 1 Always Radiant pads and liners, U by Kotex Teen pads, along with some disposal bags and wipes, this will certainly put your girl on the right footing until she decides which is the right one for her.

Don’t forget a carry pouch!

Unfortunately, periods can start anywhere, at any time. Your tween will undoubtedly find she needs to deal with her periods while out of the house. A cute and discreet napkin purse is a must for her sanitary items.

She may need two, one that she keeps in her bag with a few extra supplies like deodorant wipes, and a very small kit she can keep in her pocket. Here are a few ideas to try:

Find it on Amazon

Find it on Amazon

Find it on Amazon

Find it on Amazon

Alternatives to Pads for Tween Periods

Although pads are the easiest solution for newly menstruating girls, they’re not the only solution.

Some girls may prefer the convenience of period pants. These didn’t really exist when we were girls, so it’s a new avenue you could perhaps both explore in finding the most comfortable solution.

• We look at the best types of period pants for tweens over here.

Another alternative is using tampons. These are not recommended at the very start but learning to use a tampon is a skill your pre-teen may want to learn, especially if they have swimming lessons and pool parties to consider.

• We have a detailed guide here on teaching your tween girl how to use a tampon.

As an alternative, if tampons still feel daunting, you could introduce your girl to the concept of period swimwear. Designed for light to medium flow days, the right set of swimwear could see your girl confidentially continuing to swim through her period or at the very least, feel confident and protected while sitting poolside this summer.

• We compare leading brands of period swimsuits suitable for tweens in this guide.

Summing it up – Pads for Tweens

Organizing your tween with her first period kit might feel like the easy part, but getting to a brand and fit that’s perfect for her is entirely another challenge.

We hope this tween pad guide has helped you find the perfect fit for your girl or at least prepare her for the decision she will need to make when this important moment in her life arrives.

Let us know in the comments below if you’ve found the perfect fit for your pre-teen!

You May Like to Read Next

Helping you through the challenges that can arise in the tween parenting years, you may want to read next:

• Helping Your Daughter Choose Her First Bra
• How to Deal With Tween Girl Hair Removal
• Discussing The Important of Good Skin Hygiene With Your Tween
• Explaining Periods To Tween Boys
• The Best Health Websites Aimed at Tweens

The post Best Pads For Tween Girls Just Starting Their Period appeared first on Tween Parent | Family Lifestyle Blog.

We often forget that being a tween can be hard. Tweens are at the in-between age where they are still maturing. Their body is changing. Their emotions are all over the place and they may not know exactly how to handle those emotions and changes.  That’s where positive quotes for tweens can come in handy.

Inspirational Quotes for Tweens

“The only person you should try to be better than is the person you were yesterday.” – Matty Mullins

 “Don’t be afraid of failure. This is the way to succeed.” – LeBron James

“Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try.” – Unknown

“When everything seems to be going against you, remember…the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.”

Henry Ford

“If you are always trying to be normal, you’ll never know how amazing you can be.” – Maya Angelou

“It isn’t where you came from. It’s where you’re going that counts.” – Ella Fitzgerald

“To succeed in life, you need three things: a wishbone, a backbone, and a funny bone.” – Reba McEntire

“Make it happen. Shock everyone.”

Unknown

“No one ever made a difference by being like everyone else.” – P.T. Barnum

“Believe in yourself and you can do unbelievable things.” – Unknown

“Stop doubting yourself! You are so strong, show the world what you got!” – Unknown

“Be brave, fight for what you believe in and make your dreams your reality.”

Unknown

“Be brave, fight for what you believe in and make your dreams your reality.” – Unknown

“If you don’t believe in yourself, why is anyone else going to believe in you.” – Tom Brady

“The strongest people aren’t always the people who win, but the people who don’t give up when they lose.” – Unknown

Encouraging Quotes for Tweens

“No matter what you’re going through, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.” – Demi Lovato

“When people try to tell you who you are, don’t believe them.” – Maria Popova

“The people who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.” – Steve Jobs

“Be the reason someone feels welcome, seen, heard, valued, loved, and supported.”

Unknown

“Why fit in when you were born to stand out!” – Dr. Seuss

“Everyone you admire was once a beginner.” – Jack Butcher

“No matter what you look like or think you look like, you’re special, loved, and perfect just the way you are.” – Ariel Winter

“Don’t change so people will like you. Be yourself and the right people will love the real you.”

Unknown

“Beautiful people are not always good, but good people are always beautiful.” – Imam Ali

“Imagination is more important than knowledge.” – Albert Einstein

“It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.” – E.E. Cummings

“When you have a dream, you’ve got to grab it and never let go.” – Carol Burnett

“Tough times never last, but tough people do.” – Robert H. Schuller

“Count your rainbows, not your thunderstorms.” – Janice Thompson

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.”

Bernard M. Baruch

“Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of someone else.” – Judy Garland

Positive Quotes for Tweens

“Stay kind. It makes you beautiful.” – Unknown

“Don’t you ever let a soul in the world tell you that you can’t be exactly who you are.” – Lady Gaga

“Follow your heart, listen to your inner voice, stop caring about what others think.” – Roy T. Bennett

“You have to be authentic; you have to be true, and you have to believe in your heart.”

Howard Schultz

“When you replace ‘why is this happening to me’ with ‘what is this trying to teach me?’ Everything shifts.” – Unknown

“No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world.” – Robin Williams 

“All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.” – Walt Disney

“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.”

Oscar Wilde

“The most beautiful things in life are not things. They’re people and places and memories and pictures. They’re feelings and moments and smiles and laughter.”- Unknown

“You will always pass failure on your way to success.”– Mickey Rooney

“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” – Confucius

“The sky is full of stars and there’s room for them all to shine.”

Unknown

“You’re never going to be happy being anyone other than yourself.” – Thibaut

“People are not as beautiful as they look and talk. They are only as beautiful as they love, as they care, as they share.” – Ritu Ghatourey

“We should all celebrate our individuality and not be embarrassed or ashamed of it.” – Johnny Depp

“Train your mind and heart to see the good in everything. There is always something to be thankful for.”

Unknown

“Just be yourself, there is no one better.” – Taylor Swift

“You were born to stand out, stop trying to fit in.” – Roy T. Bennett

“Life is like photography. You need the negatives to develop.” – Ziad K. Abdelnour

Motivational Quotes for Tweens

“Success is not final; failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston Churchill

“If you’re making mistakes, it means you’re out there doing something.” – Neil Gaiman

“It is the ability to resist failure or use failure that often leads to greater success.” – J. K. Rowling

“Teamwork can build friendships that last a lifetime.”

Natalya Neidhart

“Resilience means you experience, you feel, you fail, you hurt. You fall. But you keep going.” – Yasmin Mogahed

“Nothing is particularly hard if you break it down into small jobs.” – Henry Ford 

“Take care not to listen to anyone who tells you what you can and can’t be in life.” – Meg Medina

“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” – Thomas A. Edison

“You cannot change what you are, only what you do.” – Philip Pullman

“A dream doesn’t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination, and hard work.” – Colin Powell

“Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.”

Michael Jordan

“Look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious.” – Stephen Hawking

These encouraging, positive, motivational, and inspirational quotes for tweens will help them with a variety of different things they have to encounter at this age. They can encourage and motivate them to overcome those challenges – you may also want to see more of our quotes about tweens, from the parent’s perspective!

So tell me more about Tween Parent

In our little corner here of the internet, tweenparent.com hopes to arm parents with the confidence they need to get them through the tween years. From helpful resources to gift shopping guides, a little spot on the internet dedicated to the pre-teen years and preparing you for the teen years ahead.

Pleased to have you on board!

If you’d like to see our latest tween parent guides as they’re published just pop your email at the bottom of this page.

The post Inspirational Quotes For Tweens appeared first on Tween Parent | Family Lifestyle Blog.

Let’s see how to keep your tween on track and whether it will be worth the investment to move your tween from an ordinary watch to a smartwatch now that they’re approaching their teens and high school.

Types of Smart Watches for Tweens

To ensure that you buy the best smartwatch for your tween, you can start by understanding different types of smartwatches. This will help you know which smartwatch might be the right gadget for them. Types of smartwatches for tweens include –

a) Simple Smartwatches:

Basic smartwatches are the jack of many trades, if not all. They have a touch screen and options like pedometer, calculator, alarm clock, etc. They may not connect with smartphones via Bluetooth or the net, especially if they are for youngsters. But a cable connection may be possible.

b) Smart Sport Watches

These are advanced variants of fitness trackers – and are light and waterproof. These are advanced watches that track everything from your trajectory to your heartbeat, from activity levels to oxygen levels. They store data that can be accessed using phones and computers.

c) Traditional Bluetooth Smartwatches 

Traditional smartwatches can be connected to your smartphone with the help of Bluetooth connectivity. You will receive notifications for messages, calls, social media platforms, and other apps. They come with a variety of features, and they can be used along with the smartphone.

d) Smartwatches with Phone Functions

These smartwatches have all the features to work independently from a smartphone. That’s because you can add a SIM card to it, and that will allow you to make calls, reply to text messages, use social media platforms, etc., even when your phone is not with you.

e) Hybrid Smartwatches

These watches have the face of a regular watch, but they offer the connectivity and technological advancements of a smartwatch. You can still monitor your health or access your phone using this watch. But the face of this watch is not designed for interactions in all of this.  

Features to Look for in a Quality Tween Smart Watch

Tweens these days are tech-savvy – probably more so than you! As a parent, you might feel a little intimidated while buying a smart gadget for your kids, right? While browsing the market for the best smart watches for tweens, it is a good idea to start by looking for the following features:

1. Battery Life: The primary feature of a smartwatch is how long it lasts. For your active adolescent, they could easily burn through a full overnight charge in day if they are using all of its functionality. Seek out smartwatches that can hold their charge for days.
2. Fitness Tracking: Most smartwatches have some form of a fitness tracker, starting with a basic pedometer to monitoring and recording your heartbeat, sleep pattern or pre-programmed exercises. if your tween predominantly wants a smartwatch for sports and fitness, consider whether a smartwatch is the right option or a fitness tracker.
3. Smart Features: You’ll get various smart features, like daily utility applications, along with call and app notifications, but does a tween’s watch really need to be THAT smart; work out what smart features matter most.
4. Phone Features: Some advanced smartphones for tweens come with the options to answer calls, respond to messages, and more, giving the user freedom from phone use; alternatively you may prefer a smartwatch for your tween that doesn’t require a smartphone alongside it to work.
5. Sizing: Tweens will invariably have much smaller wrists than your teens and adults so check that the smartwatch will not be too large and loose on their wrist.
6. Replaceable Straps: Not just for fashion, we all know how hard-going kids can be on their kit, and a watch is no exception even with great care taken the straps can wear. Brands that come with a replaceable strap option can be advantageous.

Our Favorite Smartwatches for Tweens

Disclosures: We are participants in the Amazon Associates Program and other affiliate programs that earn us a commission if a qualifying purchase is made.

Now you know of the various types of smartwatches for tweens and the features to look for. It’s time to check out the reviews of our favorite smartwatches for tweens currently available on the market.

Fitbit Versa 2 Smartwatch

The Fitbit Versa 2 Smartwatch is one of the best smart watches for tweens who want to take the technologically advanced route to good health. The first name that crosses our mind while thinking of fitness trackers is that of Fitbit. It’s designed to track heartbeats all the time, from swimming to sleeping.

We love it because

It offers incredible battery life, working 24/7 for 6 days.
It’s equipped with Alexa for quick access to all kinds of information.
It’s available in a wide range of stunning colors for boys and girls.

Key Features:

Perfect for workouts, with easy access to playlists.
Tracks your heartrate – all day and all night.
Allows you to control apps, messages, and calls on the phone.
Water resistant to 50m

Possible Cons:

Quick reply and voice reply options only for Android 
On the pricier side for a tween

SAMSUNG Galaxy Active 2 Watch

If there’s one thing you cannot go wrong with when it comes to your pre-teen, it’s a Samsung Galaxy smartwatch. The Active 2 watch comes with advanced options for monitoring health and fitness. It’s designed to match with all kinds of outfits. It’s the best smartwatch for tweens who like to wear sophisticated accessories with an “adult” touch.

No products found.

We love it because:

It has a sleek and light design that looks good all the time.
Comes in a 40mm model suitable for smaller wrists.
It comes with a variety of faces and bands for a new look every day.
It can go on for more than a day without charging.

Key Features:

Samsung’s OS that makes it widely compatible
LTE connectivity to give you freedom from your phone
Advanced features to monitor health   

Possible Cons:

Gaps during sleep monitoring reported by some users
Cost compared to other brands

Blackview Smart Watch

A wonderfully simple and affordable option for those looking for a greater starter smartwatch for their tween. All the functionality you’d expect in an adults smartwatch

We love it because:

4 different stylish display modes.
Great battery life.
It will not burn a hole in the pockets.

Key Features:

Built in fitness tracker with 9 exercise modes
IP68 Waterproof rating – water resistant to 50m
2.5 hours of charging will last 10 days of use or 30-45 days on standby
Supports iOS 9.0 and Android 5.0 and above

Possible Cons:

Some users have reported the plastic wrist band cracking over time.

L.O.L. Surprise! Touch-Screen Smartwatch

If your little girl has just stepped into her pre-teen years, she will love the blast of pink and animation in the Touch-Screen Smartwatch by L.O.L. Surprise! It’s ideal as the first smartwatch for tweens learning the nuances of a smart fitness tracker. It offers fun and useful features, too.

We love it because:

It has the perfect color and animation for a younger girl.
It lasts all day and night after charging once.
It offers the perfect combination of entertaining and practical features.

Key Features:

Selfie-camera, voice and video recording – with easy download and sharing.
Comes with useful options like calculator, stopwatch, and alarm clock.
Touchscreen smartwatch with pedometer

Possible Cons:

No option for phone connectivity or advanced fitness tracking.
Your tween could outgrow the novelty theme quite quickly.

Marvel SPD4588AZ Spider-Man Touchscreen Smart Watch

Has your little boy just turning into a tween? Is he still in love with all the fun, action, and vibrancy of the superhero world? It’s time to gift him the Marvel Spider-Man Smart Watch. This attractive smartwatch is the perfect watch for a growing pre-teen who’s still too young for an expensive and advanced smart device.   

We love it because:

Its Spider-Man design in a vibrant color is perfect for young tweenage boys.
It can continue functioning round the clock for a day without charging.
It is loaded with entertaining and practical features.

Key Features:

Touchscreen phone with alarm clock, timer, and calculator for everyday usage
Pedometer to get your young boy started on the journey of fitness tracking
Easy to access games, share photos, and use in-built selfie-camera

Possible Cons:

Basic fitness tracking with no option to connect with phones

AGPTEK IP68 Smartwatch

The AGPTEK IP68 Smartwatch allows your tween kid to access apps, music, messages, etc., remotely, even without a phone nearby. It’s a brilliant combination of style and functionality, without much of a pocket pinch. It’s a sturdy health-tracking smartwatch – perfect for a tween on a fitness journey and looking to add some style. 

We love it because:

It’s available in three stunning colors with five dials, with 30 more in-app dials.
It is light, sturdy, and scratch-proof – perfect for all occasions.
It lasts for 7-10 days after two hours of charging – with an incredible 30 days of standby time.

Key Features:

Easy to access apps using this smartwatch for tweens without a phone.
High accuracy in heartbeat sensing, thanks to the HR sensor.
Easy to view health reports on the Fitcloudpro app.
IP68 Waterproof.

Possible Cons:

Calling and replying options not available. 

Amazqi Smartwatch Phone

Planning to buy your pre-teen their first ever smartwatch? It’s best to choose a pocket-friendly and user-friendly option, like the Amazqi Smartwatch Phone. It is easy to sync this watch with smartphones and allows access to phone apps and functions, including answering and making calls, responding to messages.

We love it because:

It’s a standalone watch that offers access to phone apps, social media, etc.
You can choose from four stunning colors for both boys and girls.
It can be the perfect fitness buddy, with easy song access and storage. 

Key Features:

SIM card mode available for calls, messages, apps, and connectivity if required.
0.3 MP camera and shutter mode to access phone camera.
Ideal fitness tracker with pedometer and sleep monitor.
Average standby time is 24 to 48 hours.

Possible Cons:

Functionalities available only partially when synced with iPhone (fully compatible with Android devices) 

Donerton Smart Watch and Fitness Tracker

A smartwatch and fitness tracker with a sleek and stylish look, the Donerton Smart Watch is ideal for tweens who love accessories that look mature. The watch will track your kid’s activities and help them monitor their progress. Your pre-teen kid will enjoy using it as they can easily check incoming calls and social media on the watch while looking sleek and stylish.

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We love it because:

Its battery can endure 7 days of regular activities and 30 hours of standby time.
It allows quick access to social media, call, and text notifications.
It comes in four striking colors – and offers four stunning clock faces.

Key Features:

Supports 8 sports modes to record all-day activities.
Large touchscreen for easy use of everyday tools.
Easy control over phone camera by shaking the wrist.
IP67 Waterproof

Possible cons:

Over-sensitivity of step counter and sleep monitor reported by some users.
The larger 1.4″ sized screen may make it two big for a smaller tweens wrist.

Efolen Smart Watch for Women 

One of the most stylish smartwatches for a tween girl at a really reasonable price. This slim design smartwatch still delivers on fitness features while giving your tween girl a look she can be proud of. The watch comes with several different color straps and designs.

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We love it because:

Unique and elegant design that doesn’t scream sports watch.
Includes 8 fitness modes and physiological tracking for young ladies.
Customizable face watches to suit your tweens personality.

Key Features:

1.09″ wide screen, great for smaller wrists.
Compatible with advanced Android and iOS phones.
Incoming call notifications, sedentary and drink water reminders.
IP67 Waterproof.
2 hours of charge lasts 5 to 7 days and 15 days on standby.

Possible Cons:

Some users complain the small screen makes text messages hard to read.

More Gear Reviews For Your Tweens

• Your sporty tweens may also be interested in our range of tween fitness trackers. These are specialized watches that not just tell the time but can help them with tracking steps, heart rate, and more.

• Looking for something a little more low-tech that doesn’t need charging and will simply help your tween keep track of time? Try this range of trendy and functional watches for tweens.

• Is your pre-teen showing an interest in photography? Check out this great range of digital cameras for tweens, from simple point and shoots to beginner mirrorless and DLSR cameras.

• Every tween needs a reliable set of headphones. Whether it’s for doing their homework or home learning or for chilling out to their favorite tunes, here are the best headphones and wireless earbuds for tweens.

• We have a complete round up of all our favorite tween tech items for 2026 over here.

Looking for gift ideas for a tween? You may also be interested in

The post 9 Best Smartwatch For Tweens (9 To 12-Year Old Kids) in 2026 appeared first on Tween Parent | Family Lifestyle Blog.

With this new generation and most especially the tween age (9-12 years) you have to remind them that it’s daylight so that they can go out (often grudgingly at that). Do we blame technology or the times that we are in (as if there is any difference)?

You will be a lucky parent if your tween is into sports and they are loving them. Then you will be sure they are exercising and keeping healthy. But where do we go? We that our tweens are glued to the screen (be it telly or phone) and only walk when it is very necessary, like rushing to the washroom or the kitchen for a snack.

Exercising is very important for your kid and you as it will help keep fit and healthy. And we have the technology to thank for it has designed fitness trackers or smartwatches that we and our children can use to get engaged and challenge ourselves to get more actively pursuing a healthy life.

Trust me; fitness trackers are the best option that we got to ensure our kiddos get out there and get active. What’s more, they come with a screen, one more thing that will fascinate your tween. So, just tie the two together!

The fitness-related accessories have metrics that can count steps, exercise (create daily movement goals), and even monitor your child’s sleep. Some are even GPS-enabled, meaning you can keep track of your tween while out in the field. How cool can it get?

They generally come in themes that are designed for kids and in fun colors for your tween to choose from. The best part is that most of them have extra games and reward systems to make exercising fun for your tween.

What Is A Fitness Tracker?

A fitness tracker is a wearable device that is meant to gather exercise and activity-related data for the user. Fitness trackers come in various forms, such as; necklaces, wristbands, and clip-on accessories you can put on clothing.

That said, you must ensure you get the best bang for your buck when getting your tween their first fitness tracker.

Features Of A Good Fitness Tracker For Tweens

Selecting the best activity tracker for tweens will solely depend on what you want it to accomplish for your teen and their lifestyle.

1. Water Resistance/Water Proof

A good fitness tracker for your tween will need to be water-resistant. This way, they can wear them all time even when they swim. A jog in the rain will also be in order and they can also help in the house chores like washing the dishes while they have their fitness tracker on.

2. Quality And Durability

A fitness tracker that is durable is one that will serve your teen for a long time. When you buy quality, you are sure to get a durable product.

3. GPS Enabled

A cool Fitbit for tweens will need to be GPS Enabled as this will help you keep track of your child’s walks, runs, or cycles. It will also help you know which activity your child is doing and at what time. This way, you can help your tween to up their game or go slow on a certain activity.

4.  Sleep Tracker

Your tween’s quality of sleep will directly affect their mood and health. Some kids’ fitness trackers will help monitor their sleep duration and quality: this will help schedule their sleep timings, ensuring they get quality sleep as they need it for their development.

5. Call And Text Alerts

It is soo tech-savvy that these fitness watches can be synced with phones. This way, your tween leaving their changing bag that has the phone is not a problem as they will be notified of an incoming call or text.

6. Tracking Calories Burnt

One of the primary reasons we need to get our tweens out there is that they can exercise and in so doing, burn calories that at this stage of growth they love. Getting them a fitness tracker that can take up this task will be a quick and easier way for them to maintain their weight or lose it. Burning calories is beneficial in maintaining vital body functions. 

7.  24/7 Heart Rate Monitor

With this feature up your child’s fitness tracker, it will give clear insights into how their heart is responding to their daily routine and workouts. The higher their heart rates during their workouts, the more calories they are burning, which is good.

8.  Touchscreen Display

This is a feature that is sure to inspire your tweens to take up an active lifestyle. You should pick one that allows your tween to read it and has an auto-adjusting feature helping it to adapt to ambient lighting.

9.  Long Battery Life

This is a very important feature for your tween’s Fitbit. You need one that has a long battery life with a single charge. This will ensure that it operates when your tween is exercising and when they sleep.

10.  Silent Alarm

This feature will sit well with most tweens as they hate being woken up by loud and noisy alarm tones. Get them a kids’ fitness tracker that will wake them with a quiet vibration instead of the buzzy tones.

11. Weather Alerts

Cool feature, right? This will enable your tween to plan well for their afternoon in regard to their routine. They will get to know when the rain will pour to avoid it. Or better still, plan when they will go swimming.

12.  Work Out And Exercise Tracking

A fitness tracker that has a cardio fitness feature will be perfect for your tween. It will help calculate the amount of oxygen used by their bodies as they perform different activities, showing how their lungs, heart, and other organs use oxygen to function.

5 Best Fitness Trackers For Tweens

Do you want to get your kid off the couch and on their feet? We have researched to put together 5 of the best fitness trackers to buy your tween currently on the market.

Disclosures: We are participants in the Amazon Associates Program and other affiliate programs that earn us a commission if a qualifying purchase is made.

1. Fitbit Inspire 2

There are several different Fitbit models, but we think this is the best Fitbit for tweens. This Fitbit tracker is made of a durable elastomer material and fastens with a peg and loop will motivate your tween to do their weekly workout activities thanks to its unique features like active zone minutes, challenges, earning badges, and celebrating goal milestones, thus building healthy habits.

It features a 24/7 heart rate tracker that records calorie burn, resting heart rate, and heart rate zones during workouts. It also has a free one-year premium trial ensuring your tween gets personal guidance, step by step fitness and nutrition programs.

It supports over 15+ exercise modes, tracking activities like steps, distance, hourly activity, and activity minutes, storing your heart rate data at 1-second intervals during exercise and 5 seconds intervals during other activities.

It will also track your tween’s time in light, deep, and REM sleep providing pointers to improve their quality of sleep. It has a 10-day battery life and is compatible with the most popular devices and operating systems.

We love it because:

24/7 heart rate monitor
10-day battery life
Waterproof to 50m
Durable

What could be better in the Fitbit ace 2 activity tracker:

Some users have reported continual vibrating with wrist movement while not exercising
On the pricier side compared to other Fitbit models

2. Fitbit Ace 2 Activity Tracker For kids

This Fitbit Ace 2 Activity Tracker is ideal for your younger tween. It brings a fun experience for children motivating them to do physical activities with its unique features. There’s a lot to love with this dedicated tracker that’s durable, waterproof, and comes in fun colors.

It is made up of a tough silicone band that is durable and adjusts on your tween’s wrist, leaving them feeling comfortable. It has reminders for your tween to get moving and has a cool reward system to keep your tween motivated.

Its bedtime reminders, sleep tracking, and silent alarm ensures your kid gets the quality sleep they need. This tracker is also swim-proof, water-resistant, and with 5-day battery life. It also tracks steps and total active minutes, including a 1-hour active minute goal and it syncs all the data collected wirelessly to a phone.

Its app has two views: a parental view and a kids’ view. This means that your child can view their steps, badges, and other basic info, while the parent view allows you to set up more than one child.

We love it because:

It has swappable bands that are in fun colors
Durable and waterproof
Its silicone bands help protect the screen

What could be better in the Fitbit Ace 2 activity tracker:

It has a short battery life
It has no games

3. Fitbit Ace 3

The Fitbit Ace 3, as you might imagine, is that little extra step up from the Fitbit Ace 2. It features a swim-proof build, an impressive 8-day battery life, better-than-average parental controls, and a sleep tracker. This tracker counts your child’s steps and sleeping habits and monitors how long they are active.

It’s an easy-to-use tracker, which is comfortable and motivational, making things much more interesting for your tween. It comes set with a 60 minutes activity goal and a 10,000 daily step goal. It is also swim-proof and water-resistant to 50 meters.

Fitbit Ace 3 has an excellent display with an animal-changing clock that displays your tween total steps of the day. It has swappable bands that are small enough to fit even the tiniest of wrists. It’s also compatible with the most popular smartphone devices.

We love it because:

Swimproof /waterproof
8-day battery life
Almost 30 watch faces to choose from

What could be better:

A bit on the pricey side when lacking some of the features of the Fitbit Inspire 2

4. Garmin Vivofit Jr. 2

Looking away from the Fitbit brand for your tween? This is the second generation of the Vivofit by Garmin that includes generic color bands that have fun and inspiring designs, making exercise fun.

It’s a waterproof tracker that tracks steps and sleeps quality, recording their active minutes to help them form positive habits. As each fitness goal is attained, your tween can move into a more complicated game on the device, thus keeping them active and engaged.

Through its manual sync, parents are able to connect and monitor their tween’s activity. It also gives you the option to send customized alerts, homework, and chores list to the device and has over a year’s worth of battery life.

We love it because:

It has games as well as being a fitness tracker
One year battery life
Task timer feature
Fun-themed boys and girls’ designs

5. BiggerFive Fitness Tracker

This is a waterproof tracker that is slim and has a lightweight design that is simple and comes in three mature color schemes. It smartly records the number of calories you burn, the steps your tween takes and the distance covered in a particular day.

It has a 7-day battery life and can be charged by any USB adapter and is compatible with most phones. It links up with veryfitpro app for further tracking and interactivity. It has a sleep-tracking feature and a silent alarm.

What we love:

Compatible with smartphones
Convenient sleep tracker
Less charging, more battery shelf life
Great price point compared to the bigger known brands

Distinction Between Fitness Tracker and Smart Watch

Is there really a difference? Yes, while the two – a fitness tracker and a smartwatch – tend to overlap, they each have their intended purpose.

The fitness tracker is primarily designed to keep track of your health and exercise. However, some more advanced trackers can also display texts and app notifications on your wrist like a smartwatch, but their intended purpose is to focus on your health and daily activity monitoring. They will generally also have a digital watch function.

A smartwatch not only keeps track of your health and exercise but also keeps you connected by delivering notifications and updates on your wrist. You can find our detailed guide to tween smartwatches over here.

In a quest to find your tweens a fitness watch, I hope you have finally found one in the above compilation. These watches have great features and functions that will help your tween get the best out of their activities.

Looking for more inspiration for your sporty & active tween?

• Also check out our guide to the best gifts for sporty tween girls
• Come over here to find the best gifts for your active and sporty boys

The post Best Fitness Tracker For Tweens (9 To 12-Year-Olds) in 2026 appeared first on Tween Parent | Family Lifestyle Blog.

It can be a challenging and confusing time for any child. So where do you find the best sources of information to direct your tween to (other than some pretty far out there and erroneous info they pick up on TikTok?)

Best Tween Health Websites

Whilst nothing can replace on-to-one honest conversation with your tween, we know there are plenty of topics that tweens might find difficult to approach.

Here are some safe and kid-friendly websites that may help them with some independent answers:

Health for Kids and Health for Tweens

www.healthforkids.co.uk and healthforteens.co.uk

Both run by the NHS in the UK, these are excellent and reliable sources of health information for your tweens, set out in plain language with accurate and reliable information.

The major focus on both sites at present is naturally Coronavirus, dealing with germs- in a fun and cute way on the kids’ site and in more of a news site manner for the teens. The teens’ site also quite prominently tackles the subjects of anxiety, puberty, alcohol, tobacco, and sexual health in a matter-of-fact way.

Kids can also find fun games on the Health for Kids site, even exercise videos.

Kids Health

www.kidshealth.org/en/kids and www.kidshealth.org/en/teens

Run by the non-profit Nemours Foundation, it’s certainly packed full of useful information thought the design is somewhat uninspiring and unlikely to engage tweens for long, it does have a load of useful information.

One function we love about this site is that it has a Spanish translate button and a listen-to function so those less confident in reading English can listen in.

Young Men’s Health

www.youngmenshealthsite.org

Ideal for your older male tweens, this highly targeted website is run by the Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital. It goes deep on male teen issues covering general health, sexual health, diet and nutrition, and emotional well-being.

There’s a great back catalog of articles covering any male health issue and concerns you can think of, plus an opportunity for boys to ask questions anonymously – use the search function as there’s a lot in there; your tween’s question has no doubt been asked before!

There is a specific parents section to help you as parents, too, with some super detailed guides for tackling difficult topics with your tween and teen boys.

Centre for Young Women’s Health

www.youngwomenshealth.org

The sister site to Young Men’s Health is an excellent and reliable resource for your tween and teen girls. Covering general health, sexual health, gynecology, nutrition, and emotional health, it’s a treasure trove of information for your older tween girls hitting puberty in English and Spanish.

There’s also a chat function where you can ask all those embarrassing questions. A more grown-up site but easy to navigate and sure to help your tween through those difficult questions in a no-nonsense manner.

Parents will find a great range of health guides here, too, to help their tween and teen girls navigate the journey into womanhood.

The Trevor Project

www.thetrevorproject.org

Tweens with curiosity and concerns about sexuality may feel comfortable exploring The Trevor Project in their own time. Although it may seem quite a grown-up concept for your tweens, the site is designed to help LGBTQ+ youth and their families with sexual identity acknowledgement and sexual health questions.

The site touches on sensitive topics with practical information and the ability to connect with counsellors via phone chat or text.

Final thoughts on tween health websites

The important part of letting your tween research their own health concerns and questions online is there as part of the process. Don’t simply accept that they’ll learn everything they need online and be done with it.

Direct them to these websites as part of building their own understanding of themselves and the world around them, but be part of the process. Gentle probing on what they have learned, the opportunity to ask any follow-up questions for topics they didn’t quite understand – it’s not a term test paper, just being there as a sounding board.

We hope you’ve found this tween resource useful. Let us know in the comments if you’ve found any other handy resources.

The post Best Tween Websites For Health Information appeared first on Tween Parent | Family Lifestyle Blog.

How old should girls be to use tampons?

We’ve been doing some deeper digging into the topic to see how much truth lies behind this statement. Before giving newly menstruating girls tampons, what risks and concerns do you need to consider? And what type of tampon is right for a pre-teen girl?

The slightly terrifying truth – for us and our girls – is that girls are getting their periods much younger. The average age range is now thought to be between 9 to 12 years old – spot on over the tween age group – not teenagers, as you may be lead to believe.

Our tweens still seem so young for this conversation but remember, “the talk” will likely need to occur earlier than when you were a child. From around the first signs of puberty – such as growing buds or the first pubic hairs – would be an appropriate point to start chatting to your tween girl about periods and reproduction.

You will no doubt cover with them the basics of sanitary napkins or pads, period pants, and hygiene during their period; however, it would be remiss to completely skip over the topic of tweens and tampons during the initial discussions on managing their monthly periods.

Is There a “Right Age” Tweens Should Start Using Tampons?

Despite it seemingly being a common conversation thread that tampons are not appropriate for tweens, after some deeper digging, we have found this is certainly not the case, from a medical standpoint, at least.

Let’s talk about how they work and why a tween might want to proceed with caution.

NB, the information in this post does not constitute medical advice. You should always speak to your medical practitioner about your child’s particular needs if in doubt.

How Do Tampons Work?

Tampons are oblong or cylindrical shaped and made of soft, compacted cotton-like material. They are inserted inside the v, and the v wall holds the tampon in place. A string is attached to the bottom of the tampon, so it is easy to gently tug and remove when used.

Whilst inside the v, the tampon absorbs the flow. When filled, a string hangs from beneath that should be tugged, and the tampon will slide out for disposal.

What Sort of Sanitary Items Should I Get My Daughter For Her First Period?

Most parents worry a lot about finding the best pad that will work for their tweens. And yes, your tween daughter will need you to educate her on pads and tampons before the time arrives to adjust comfortably to the changes of puberty.

Whilst the majority of tweens are likely to be happy starting with sanitary pads or period pants, there may be occasions they’ll feel more comfortable if they use a tampon. Swimming is the primary reason most tween girls are likely to want to explore this option, but it can simply be personal preference, too, especially if they know their mom or other ladies in their family use tampons.

It’s important when you first start discussing sanitary products to speak about each in a positive light. They will have pros and cons in everyone’s individual situation; she will need to decide which suits her best.

Types of Tampons for Tweens

So if you’ve decided tampons are something your tween would like to try, getting them the right size to fit their growing bodies and flow needs is important.

Some come with an applicator which is a little more “hands off” but might require a little more time to get used to how it works and find the right position. Other brands are manually inserted with a finger to find the right spot. Regardless of what method, discuss with her the importance of hand washing and hygiene when using tampons.

Having the right tampon for a younger girl will also help. A super overnight maxi flow tampon is no way to introduce your poor little girl to the years that lie ahead!

We strongly suggest you buy more than one brand of everything at the start – be it sanitary pads, periods pants, or tampons – she will need to experiment to find the one that’s right for her. It may well be a combination of brands and hygiene methods that works best.

How Do I talk My Tween Through Inserting Her First Tampon?

The first time using a tampon can be an awkward moment for a pre-teen or teenage girl to deal with (and mom!). She needs to be comfortable with the method of insertion and removal.

It might feel simple once you’ve done it hundreds of times, but can you actually remember back to that very first moment? Here we’re going to talk you through step by step with handy tips for a pre-teen:

Top Tips for Trying Tween Tampons

• You should talk through the angle of her body together before she heads into the bathroom. The packaging will have diagrams, too, to assist this discussion.

• Get several types of tampons. With or without an applicator, try several different brands. It’s only through trial and error she will discover what works best.

• Applicator tampons may work better for a beginner trying to find the right position; plastic applicators may feel more comfortable starting than cardboard applicators.

• Experiment with positions. She can try one leg on the toilet or bathtub, crouching or even lying down while she finds her way to a comfy spot.

• A small mirror may assist her actually seeing what she’s doing down there, though it’s best she practices by feel.

• Reminder her that if it’s not comfortable, it’s probably not in right. You’d rather she goes through more than necessary at the start to get the position right.

• It is best to test tampons when she’s actually on her period. Testing without, she may find her v is too dry. One way to combat this is to try a few drops of lube or Vaseline; it may make sliding things in easier (if you look around, there are a few non-sexual brands out there!)

• Even if she has a heavier flow, start with a “lite” or “light” tampon until she’s worked out her technique; they are slimmer and less intimidating for a beginner. Once she has the basics down, you can move to the right flow level.

• She should only use the level of absorbency required for the flow, not stronger “just in case.”

• Even using a tampon, your girl may fill more confident if she also wears a panty liner. Panty liners are much smaller and more discreet than a period pad, so they should be an almost unnoticeable extra layer of protection for your girl.

• If the panty liner is filling with more than spotting, she may need a stronger absorbency tampon.

• It’s best not to start testing out a tampon immediately before a big event where your daughter might feel under huge pressure to “get it right.” It’s not something anyone really wants mom hanging there for a live demo, but it will help her if you’re outside the door for some moral reassurance.

• When introducing your tween to tampons, you must discuss the importance of hygiene. This includes not just hand washing before and after but when to replace your tampon. The FDA recommends changing your tampon every four to eight hours.

• You should make sure she is aware of what toxic shock syndrome is, but assure them that with correct tampon use, it can be avoided. Commonly associated with prolonged ultra-absorbent tampon use during menstruation, it is caused by the release of toxins and an overgrowth of the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus – staph for short. TSS can be fatal if symptoms go unchecked.

• Avoid products that are heavily scented. As much as it’s tempting to think they’ll “mask” smells, they can cause irritation and upset the pH balance of the v.

• Don’t forget as well as insertion; there’s removal to deal with! You may need to clock-watch and remind a little at the start.

• Removal is an easy tug on the string, but she understandably may get distressed if it hiding or a little bit stuck “up there” – it happens. And yup, you wouldn’t be the first mom to have to go on a rescue mission. Stay calm!

• Ask her to look at the used tampon on the way out, even if she finds it grouse. If it’s still quite white after 4 to 8 hours of wearing, she may be ready to step down to a lighter flow tampon.

• It’s important to reiterate to your tween that it’s not appropriate to flush any type of sanitary products down the toilet. While pads are exceptionally troublesome, it’s not appropriate to flush tampons equally. If they don’t have a sanitary bin or trash can close to hand, ensure they have some disposable baggies.

• Tampons should only ever be used once. The FDA does not have any approved reusable tampons.

• If it doesn’t work out the first time, try again in a few months – or a year. As your girl grows in maturity and familiarity with her body, she may feel more confident to give it a go.

Reasons For Tweens to Avoid Tampons

So what are all these arguments against tampons?

At the very start, your tween’s periods are likely to be irregular. As much as they may find it unpleasant to start with, they will want to be able to check on their flow and understand how much they are bleeding, which is easier to gauge with a sanitary pad.

Tweens are also at an age where they are still prone to forget things; it’s essential for hygiene and safety they do not wear a tampon for too long.

Overall, let your girl guide the discussion. At the start of her flow and dealing with changing pads, the sight, the smell of the blood can already be overbearing for young girls. It may take time for them to gain confidence in touching themselves “down there.” Tampons do require more manual touching than other sanitary methods.

Talk to your doctor if you or your tween girl are still nervous. Perhaps with their reassurance and talking through the pros and cons, you can get more comfortable with this step. If not, there’s no problem with continuing with a sanitary method that does suit.

Features of Tween Tampons

• Tween and teen tampons are similar in design and function to regular tampons, but they are designed to fit smaller bodies.

• Remember, “slim” and “light” aren’t always the same thing. It depends on the material they’re made from. A light flow tampon is less absorbent, but “slim tampons” can still have high absorbency.

• Preteens may also be interested in trying “sports” marketed tampons, particularly if they’re active sporty girls. The big selling point of these tampons is “leak protection”, they are designed to leak less – though generally, many beginners report them feeling more comfortable.

• Applicator tampons may be easier for a beginner to use, but as there are more materials, in the long run, they cost more and are not as good for the environment. Discuss the pros and cons with your tween.

• Some tampons come with cardboard applicators which are more environmentally friendly, though they may feel a little more uncomfortable for a beginner to use as they’re more rigid.

7 Best Easy-to-Use Tampons for Tweens

So now we know what our tween needs; what are the leading brands of “teen tampons” ideal for beginners to wear?

We’ve included here some leading brands of tampons for beginners. All are smaller in size and made for lighter flows. As we mentioned above, once her technique improves and she’s comfortable with how they feel inserted, she can move on to a heavier flow or “Super” tampon.

1. Tampax Pearl – Light

Find it on Amazon

Find it on Amazon

Tampax Pearl tampons are great for tweens just starting out. Their simple design makes them comfortable to insert. Once she has the hang of things, you can increase the size to suit her flow. We Love that they come in multipacks, ideal for your changing flow throughout a period. They’re one of the only brands we can find that sell Light tampons in big boxes!

2. U by Kotex Fitness Tampon – Regular

A popular choice for active girls, U by Kotex Fitness tampon should give them more reassurance against leaks. The regular size is not too intimidating for a beginner as it comes in a compact applicator fit. You’ll also get a small compact carry case.

Find it on Amazon

3. Playtex Sport Regular

Similarly, Playtex Sport is another popular tween and teen tampon option. The “360 protection” means the tampon goes in small but expands in all directions when absorbing. The contoured tips make it easier to insert.

Find it on Amazon

4. Seventh Generation Free Clear Lite Tampons

Got a girl with a planet-first approach? Good on you! We love that these regular flow tampons contain no nasties, no perfumes, dyes, and chlorine bleaching, responsibly sourced cotton, and a plant-based applicator. Definitely include these when you are seeking the perfect tampon brand for your tween.

Find it on Amazon

5. U by Kotex Click – Regular

U by Kotex Click Compact tampons are a good starting point for any tween or teen. These applicator tampons will ease their journey into womanhood with their easy applicator system. Simply pull the lower end once comfortably in place, they’ll expand to a regular-sized tampon.

Find it on Amazon

6. OB Organic Regular

OB Organic can be a popular choice for beginners as they tend to be a little smaller than other brands, though the lightest flow their organics range covers are regular. Free from perfumes and dyes and complete with applicators from renewable resources, we’d certainly strongly consider this in your tween’s tampon repertoire.

If you’re seeking something even smaller to start, try OB Pro Comfort Minis (no applicator).

Find it on Amazon

7. Cora Organic Applicator Tampons

The band name may not be as well known, but if it’s a variety you’re after to test out her flow size and get her used to the tampon insertion process, Cora is a great starting point for a tween.

These organic tampons come with an applicator and three different sizes for throughout her period, but definitely start with the lite; the supers can be intimidating.

Find it on Amazon

Don’t Forget a Tampon Carry Pouch!

Unfortunately, periods can start anywhere, any time (even if you use a period app). Your tween will undoubtedly find she needs to deal with her periods while out of the house. A cute and discreet tampon purse is a must for her sanitary items. Here are a few ideas to try:

Find it on Amazon

Find it on Amazon

Find it on Amazon

Find it on Amazon

More Frequently Asked Questions About Tweens and Tampons

Organizing your tween with her first period kit might feel like the easy part, but getting to a brand and fit of tampon that’s perfect for her is entirely another challenge.

We hope this tween tampon guide has helped you find the perfect fit for your girl or at least prepared you and her with the facts you need for this important moment in her life.

Let us know in the comments below if you’ve found the perfect fit for your pre-teen!

You May Like to Read Next

Helping you through the challenges that can arise in the tween parenting years, you may want to read next:

Helping Your Daughter Choose Her First Bra
How to Deal With Tween Girl Hair Removal
Discussing Skin Care With Tweens And The Best Cleanser Products
Explaining Periods To Tween Boys
The Best Health Websites Aimed at Tweens

The post Should Tween Girls Use Tampons? Sanitary Options for Pre-Teens appeared first on Tween Parent | Family Lifestyle Blog.