Behavior

Taming Tween Humor

How to handle a-little-too-wise cracks from your tweens

By Jennifer Kelly Geddes , Parenting
 
See Also
Master the crazy middle school world - Parenting.com
How to handle the new mood swings - Parenting.com
Tips to deal with your child's attitude as she grows into a teenager - Parenting.com
Yes, it's possible! Ways to do it  -- and what to expect - Parenting.com
She's too old for Club Penguin, too young for Facebook. So where's your tween spending her online time? Girls this age have sites all their own. - Parenting.com

Potty jokes can be annoying, but at least they're harmless. Once kids get close to their middle-school years, they use humor to discover who they are, says Joel Goodman, director of The Humor Project in Saratoga Springs, NY.

Tween boys usually lean toward slapstick (think Jim Carrey or Ben Stiller), anything gross (farting, burping, boogers), and the inappropriate (sexual innuendo, violence, and rude talk). "Most boys love the dumb stuff and testing boundaries," notes Goodman.

Tween girls tend to joke about relationships, either between friends or the romantic kind, and they'll experiment with various put-downs in order to see where they fit in at school (is she a mean girl, a tomboy, or a geek?).

Your response: Point out when your kid crosses the line. Explain that a joke shouldn't embarrass or make others uncomfortable, and that he can't cover up an insult simply by tossing out "JK!" (just kidding).

 

PRINT
Quick Poll

Who's the best-trained member of your family?

My husband
My child
Our pet


ADVERTISEMENT
Popular on Parenting.com
Popular on Parenting.com
 
Photo Galleries

12 Easy Homemade Halloween Costumes for Babies

Cheap, easy-to-make and quick costumes for your baby

promotion
 

Blog: Family Budget Boot Camp

Natasha: "As of today, I've paid off one card. It's a small victory, not because it was the one with the lowest balance, but because I've been in a funk. I've never been more exhausted in my life." Updated frequently.

Blog: The Parenting Post

Mighty Maggie: "I have been in charge of the family finances for about a year now and I STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT I AM DOING." Updated Daily!

The Best Toys of 2009

We're giving away over $900 worth of toys! Enter BOTH giveaways once a day until December 14
Holidays

NEW! Holiday Hints Newsletter

Get ready for the holidays with our latest e-mail newsletter -- with helpful tips that'll take you from Thanksgiving to New Year's