How childhood has changed for tweens

Although the world is changing rapidly, young people’s developmental trajectory has remained the same. Just as in the past, today’s young adolescents with still-developing prefontal cortexes are malleable, impulsive, and impressionable. But Phyllis Fagell identifies three areas where today’s tweens are different from those of the past. They are growing up in a world where digital technology permeates every aspect of their lives. They are facing increased mental health challenges, but less stigma surrounds those challenges. And they are receiving more support to work through identity issues, even as hate groups appear to be on the rise