To be a Tween is to be Cool

Jayson, S. (2009, February 4). It's cooler than ever to be a tween, but is childhood lost? USA Today. 

Reflection

I remember when this article came out years ago,I cut it out because I had no idea that this age group had such a name. It has been tacked up on my bulletin board ever since. I knew that they were on to something but back then, tween was not as well known as it is now.  At the time, libraries still lumped together ages 5-12 and even the thought of separating them was a silly idea. Now, tweens are a hot commodity and everyone is jumping on this bandwagon, especially librarians and libraries. 

This article touches on every crucial part of tweendom. From marketing to self-esteem issues and entertainment ideas, retailers know that tweens are a hot market for clothes, music, and entertainment and they are not wasting any time marketing their commodities to meet their needs. Those of us who work with tweens know that the majority of them are immersed in consumer culture and they seek connections and identity through television shows, music choices, and even message boards and networking websites. Other interesting sections in this article talk about tweens earning money, obtaining debt at an earlier age, and even the gender issues that tween boys and girls face. This article should be read by all because it sums up tweens perfectly.
As a librarian I am constantly being asked by parents to suggest books about growing up. puberty, and parenting issues. When I take them over to the appropriate non fiction areas, I always sneak in articles or books that I have read that I believe would help them figure their tween out. I keep a filing cabinet full of articles and research studies that talk about kids, tweens, and teens, and it has been critical in many discussions with parents, co workers and my peers.