I also like working on the existing life stages rather adding new ones. I think they could fix some of the issues with teens by just making a difference in the types of choices and access you have as a younger teen and an older one. For instance, a young teen could be up to half the life stage and until you reach the halfway point, you can't get a job or stay home alone (or babysit) without going through a safety class first. You're in middle school/jr high. You have more cooking options than a kid, but are still limited. The phone/computer is limited. You still get fun out of playing with toys. You can have a crush, but not a boy/girlfriend. Harsh curfews, not all skills are accessible nor can you max any (unless there are special ones like for kids), etc. Just make the first half the experiences of a preteen/young teen and then when they reach the halfway point have a special announcement, maybe even the option of a celebration (like a birthday but not quite maybe call it a Sweet 16/15 or Quinceanera or something). Then all the options for older teens open up like boy/girlfriends, prom, can stay home alone, most skills available, they're in high school now, etc.
Even if they look like older teens all the time, if they play like younger teens for half the stage that would bring new refreshing game play to the life stage. Plus, you could get a nice sweet preteen who makes choices and ends up a rebellious mean teen, or vice versa. There could be responsible/irresponsible, loves school/hates school, popular/loser, etc that come about from choices both that happen in-game and the random pop ups. These would have an effect on their emotions and school record which effects getting into college. Their choices as older teens could also have consequences in the ability to get into college after graduation like having to wait a year before trying again because of a prank gone wrong that went on their record. Idk, maybe all that is as complicated as adding a life stage, but I'd enjoy that.
