Share with your friends

Talk to the children about their feelings. Ask them why they feel sad or unhappy. Sometimes it's hard for tweens to open up, so tell them that it's perfectly okay to talk about their feelings. If they have opened up, offer them advice and help on dealing with tough situations (examples include anxiety, bad grades, bullying, peer pressure, friendship problems, breakups, etc.). If they haven't opened up, wait until they are comfortable with sharing sensitive information with you.