As she nears her teens, your child's physical self-sufficiency is joined by more independent thought.

She is increasingly able to motivate herself and may be irritated if you continue to do it for her. She is also able to concentrate longer and will be able to work more intensely on homework.

More questions than answers
At roughly between 10 and 13, your child develops new capacity for abstract thought. This is one of the most significant milestones during this age period and can throw up interesting and tricky questions like 'Why does God let people starve?'

Your pre-teen can understand lots of things that were previously beyond her, but unfamiliar ideas about morality and 'the done thing' can also cause her guilt and worry. Where a younger child won't steal in case he gets punished, a pre-teenager will identify with the rightful owner and won't steal because it's 'wrong'.