Brought to you by the American School Counselor Association The explosive preteen They can be temperamental and unpredictable – one wrong move could set them off. Living with a preteen can sometimes feel like walking through a minefield. How can you keep the peace and still make sure that homework and chores get done? Here are 10 tips that can help.

  1. Think ahead One of our best tools as parents is being prepared. As your son or daughter gets to the middle-school years, get ready for at least occasional conflicts. Think through what’s truly important to you. Is your youngster’s hairstyle as important as homework? Isn’t her curfew more of a concern than crabbiness? Obviously, dawdling is a lot easier to accept than drugs. As these give-and-take situations start, know ahead of time what areas you are and aren’t willing to negotiate.