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A Preteen or pre-teen refers to a stage of human development during childhood. Typically a preteen is from eight years old to twelve years old and is not yet adolescent (that is, has not yet undergone puberty).

Main article: Developmental psychology

Preteens are developing a more realistic view of the world in several ways:

• More realistic fears (i.e. kidnappings, rapes, and scary media events, as opposed to fantasy things such as witches, monsters, etc.)
• More realistic job expectations ("I wanna be a doctor when I grow up", as opposed to "I want to be a teddy bear" and "I'm working hard to get to college X" as opposed to "I'm going to Y for college.")
• More responsibilities, such as mowing the lawn, delivering papers, collecting things from friends or relatives and shoveling snow in winter
• More nuanced view of human relationships (i.e. they may notice the flawed, human side of adult authority figures more readily than they would at a younger age)
• A more developed sense of self and identity
• Increased feelings of independence
• More nuanced view of morality
• More mature, sensible, realistic thoughts and actions
• Often gaining knowledge of sexual intercourse and dating.

While these traits may sound similar to those of teenagers, preteens think more similarly to children than they do to teenagers, and these traits are still very undeveloped.

Many schools attempt to develop these feelings through the use of lessons tailored specifically to preteens' developing worldview. For example, debates on touchy moral issues (i.e. drugs or alcohol) are sometimes introduced in the upper elementary school grades, as well as classes on current events.

Preteens are also known for their brand consumption, and are a heavily targeted market of many advertisers. Their tendency to buy brand-name items may be due to a desire to fit in, although the desire is not as strong as it is with teenagers. Many of these brands names fall under clothing and music.

Myers, James. "Tweens and cool" [1], Admap, March 2004.