This weekend has been anticipated by Twilight fans for months. New Moon, the second installment of the Twilight series opens in movie theatres today. While tweens, teens and fans of all ages will wait in line for tickets this weekend, conversations are bound to continue about whether or not the movie (and the books) are appropriate for the tween crowd.

Having seen the movie at a press premiere earlier this week, I can say that one thing's for sure: parents will feel pretty strongly one way or another. How do you feel about allowing tweens watch New Moon? Do you think it's a great story, and one that tweens can learn from with adult supervision? Or, do you think the content is too mature for those under 13?

If you're planning on hitting the stores on Black Friday, or even if you're planning on knocking out a little shopping before then, be sure you make the most of your time. Make a list of items you're looking for (for your tween and other family members) and don't forget about all those little stocking stuffers.

Finding fun stocking stuffers for tweens is pretty easy, just gravitate toward the novelty section of the stores you visit, and don't forget about a practical stuffer or two -- such as a pair of gloves or Chapstick.

Most of all, have fun and enjoy the experience. It only comes once a year, after all.

More Thrifty Thursday Ideas from The Parenting Channel

Follow Me on Twitter

If your tween hasn't asked for a bedroom makeover yet, prepare yourself. It's coming. But making over a tween bedroom doesn't have to be expensive, and you don't need to call in the professionals to get it done.

Experts advise you simplify room makeovers by: clearing out everything your child no longer wants and organizing must-keep items; slapping on a new coat of paint; and adding a few fun accessories. Simple, and budget-conscious.

How would you keep a child's room makeover from taking over the family savings account? Share your comments below.

It's easy to feel sorry for Thanksgiving, the holiday that seems to get lost in the pre-Christmas frenzy. But this year, my youngest is determined that the last Thursday in November gets its due. Already, she's planning on decorating the house, and has picked a few recipes she wants to make for the family.

Her enthusiasm has jump-started my own, although I'm not sure I'm up for preparing a huge Thanksgiving meal, soup to nuts. Nonetheless, your tweens can also participate in the annual ritual of thanks and Thanksgiving. Just incorporate them into the daily activities, and let them take charge of an activity or two on their own. That may make your list of holiday to-dos a little shorter, and that's truly something to be thankful for, don't you think?

First the dolls, then the books, then the movies. Now, the folks over at American Girl are offering up craft projects and kits for tween girls. The projects, which are available this month at 1,200 Michaels Craft Stores, are reasonably priced and are true to the American Girl mission.

These craft projects would make great gifts for a birthday party, and cater to the creative side of the tween girl mind. Projects include sewing kits, jewelry making kits, scrapbooking projects, room decor projects, fashion projects and more. A thrifty choice for budget-conscious parents on the prowl for great gift giving ideas.

More Thrifty Thursday Ideas from the Parenting Channel:

Whether or not your child decides to smoke may depend, in part, on gender. According to research by Weill Cornell Medical College, tween attitudes towards smoking and drug use are different for boys and girls.

For the study, confidential surveys were distributed to 6th and 7th graders. The results showed that tween girls are more likely to engage in smoking and other drug abuse if their friends do, whereas boys are influenced by their age group as a whole, and not just their friends.

Also, it appears as though parents do influence their children's behaviors. Children of parents who had permissive views on smoking and drinking were more likely to light up or drink alcohol than their peers.

More on Tweens and Drug Use

Most people assume teens and young adults are more likely to suffer from eating disorders. But research shows that many people who battle bulimia, anorexia, and other eating disorders first showed symptoms at the age of 10. Hard to believe, isn't it?

It's normal for tweens to be concerned about their weight and body image. After all, they're more self-aware and are flooded with images of "beauty" from just about every direction. Still, if your child's interest in body image, weight, and food take a serious turn, you should know the symptoms that there might be a problem, and understand treatment options that are available to you.

I'm so not ready for the holiday season. I'd like to enjoy the cooler temperatures and the beautiful autumn backdrop without having to think about shopping, Christmas music, and stores already decked out with this year's trendy decorations.

Still, the practical side of me says if I wait to begin my holiday shopping, I'll live to regret it. So I have been picking up gifts here and there, and stashing them away in a location not to be found by my kids. If you're thinking about getting ahead on your shopping this year, the Parenting Guides at About can help. Together, we've collected gift ideas that you can shop for right at home with the help of your computer. Check out our suggestions, then get back to enjoying the pre-holiday season.

I read a story this week about the online habits of teens and tweens. Recent studies prove what most parents already knew -- that youngsters as young as 12 are using social networking regularly, despite minimum age requirements of 13 or 14.

While experts in child safety, and in Internet addiction worry about the blowback of allowing youngsters to establish their own online profiles, many parents I know believe that social networking is a great way to stay on top of a child's life, and know what's going on at school, and with friends. What are your thoughts? Should tweens engage in social networking on sites such as Facebook and MySpace? Or should they wait a few years before jumping in?

Conflict is just going to happen in life, and it's not necessarily a bad thing. In middle school, you can pretty much bet the farm that your child will either encounter a bully, or, at some point, engage in bullying behavior himself (or herself, no discriminating here, folks).

According to the National Survey of Children's Health, 24 percent of parents report their child bullies or is cruel at least some of the time. Thirty-five percent of parents say that they are concerned about their child being bullied at school.

What can you do? Know the signs of bullying, and being able to recognize that conflict has gone too far. Also, know that youngsters who bully others and are bullied themselves are likely to have certain risk factors, such as social isolation, and serious academic challenges.