Preteen: meaning, definitions and examples

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preteen

 

[ priːtiːn ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

age group

A preteen refers to a child who is in the developmental stage just before the teenage years, typically between the ages of 9 to 12. During this period, children experience significant physical, emotional, and social changes as they prepare for adolescence. Preteens begin to develop their own identities and may become more independent from their parents. This age group is often characterized by increased interest in peer relationships, extracurricular activities, and self-expression.

Synonyms

pre-adolescent, tween, youth

Examples of usage

  • The preteen years are often filled with curiosity and exploration.
  • Many preteens start to develop hobbies and interests that influence their future.
  • Social interactions become more important for preteens as they navigate friendships.

Translations

Translations of the word "preteen" in other languages:

🇵🇹 pré-adolescente

🇮🇳 पूर्व किशोर

🇩🇪 Vorkind

🇮🇩 pra-remaja

🇺🇦 підліток

🇵🇱 przednastolatek

🇯🇵 プレティーン

🇫🇷 pré-adolescent

🇪🇸 preadolescente

🇹🇷 ergen öncesi

🇰🇷 프리틴

🇸🇦 قبل المراهقة

🇨🇿 předpubertální

🇸🇰 predpubertálny

🇨🇳 青少年之前

🇸🇮 predpubertet

🇮🇸 fyrir unglinga

🇰🇿 жасөспірімге дейін

🇬🇪 წინა თინეიჯერი

🇦🇿 əvvəlki gənclik

🇲🇽 preadolescente

Etymology

The term 'preteen' is a relatively modern construct that emerged in the late 20th century, specifically in the 1980s and 1990s. It was developed to better categorize children who were not yet teenagers but were on the verge of entering their teenage years. The prefix 'pre-' indicates 'before', while 'teen' refers to the age range of 13 to 19 years. This classification was created to acknowledge the unique developmental stage that occurs between childhood and adolescence. As societal understanding of child development has progressed, the term preteen has become widely recognized in educational, social, and media contexts, allowing for more tailored approaches in parenting, marketing, and education aimed at this specific age group.