Pre-teen
[File:Malteste 47.jpg|thumb|Example from a spanking illustration by Louis Malteste: The older spankee is an adolescent, the younger a preteen.]]
A preteen is a preadolescent child, i.e. one that is younger than a teenager. Usually children between approximately age 9 and 12 are called preteens. Sometimes the word "preteen" is used to include children between approximately age 6 and 12.
Some dictionary definitions designate preadolescence as the years from 10 to 13.
In the age range of about 9-12, children are also demographically referred to as tweens. "Tween" is said to be an American neologism and marketing term for preteen, a blend of "between" and "teen". It refers to the "in-between" stage in a child's development. Tween girls are considered "too old for toys, too young for boys". Tween boys, in comparison, tend to still play a lot, but different games and more sports than younger boys.
Developmental features
Physically
Preteens are usually also prepubescents, i.e. they have not reached puberty, which typically takes place around age 12 to 14. Their sexuality is still latent. Their bodies have not yet begun to produce male or female hormones which are responsible for the typical male and female body features of adults. Preteens have no pubic hair and little or no other body hair either. Preteen girls have generally not yet developed the typical fat tissues of women at the thighs and buttocks and have undeveloped breasts. Preteen boys have less muscles, no beards, and their penises and testicles are still small.
Mentally
Preteens have not yet reached the abilities and interests of teenagers, but differ from small children in that they are not primarily occupied with play.
With respect to independence:
- Teens tend to want independent activity from their parents and can handle it most of the day.
- Preteens desire such independence, but don't typically handle it other than for short periods.
- Younger than preteens want independent action (doing things themselves) but tend to not want to be away from their parents.
Preteens and spanking
In traditional parenting, preteens are, or were, generally considered an age group where corporal punishment is, or was, still often needed and still effective in correcting unacceptable behaviour when adapted in severity to an older child's higher pain tolerance. Preteens are, or were, often expected to possess the discipline to cooperate with such punishment, e.g. to get into the proper position when told and remain in it until the end of the chastisement.
Since preteens generally have not yet reached puberty, often little concern is, or was, taken for their modesty during such punishment.
Preteens are often popular subjects for spanking art due to this age group is where parental approval starts to wane as a primary consideration for the child and Peer Approval starts to matter a lot more. Coupled with more independent opportunity without direct supervision this becomes a period of even typical "good boys/girls" have a period common misbehaviour.
Preteens in spanking art
Preteens are also often featured in spanking fiction, such as spanking stories, spanking novels, comics, manga, spanking drawings or rendered spanking art.
Preteen roles are also popular play ages in spanking roleplay, both in real life and in online roleplay.
See also
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