Development

• Tells time, reads for pleasure, tells jokes, appreciates own talents.
• School and peer relationships gain importance.
• Continue to work with school organization. Encourage your child to be responsible for getting his/her backpack ready in the evening and helping to pack lunches.
• Stay in touch with teachers.

Activities

• Encourage daily exercise. Exercise together or get involved in sports.
• Discuss current events.
• Discuss puberty, read books together, attend a puberty class at a school or local hospital.
• Keep your child involved and active but beware of over-scheduling. Allow some time for unstructured play each day.

Safety

• Model consistent use of seat belts, not using cell phone while driving and other safe behaviors. Use booster seat until your child about 4'9 inches tall. If questions about booster seats call 1-800-BUCK-L-UP or visit www.carseat.org or www.boosterseat.org.
• Reinforce gun safety. Do the homes your child visits have guns? If so, are they locked safely with ammunition locked in separate place?
• Personal safety, risk taking behavior and peer pressure should be openly discussed.
• Review water and bicycle safety. Continue to be consistent with helmet use.
• Use sunscreen daily SPF 15 recommended. SPF 30 if fair skin.

Parenting

• Model behaviors for your child. Allow mistakes so child can learn.
• Discuss both your child's feelings and your feelings. Review the best/worst thing about your day and your child's day.
• Share your family values with your child. Ask what she/he thinks and feels about things. Openly discuss the hazards of smoking, drug use and alcohol.
• Listen carefully.
• Limit screen time to less than one hour a day. Consider screen free school days.
• Find time for yourself and your spouse.

Nutrition

• Reinforce the value of a healthy diet.
• Eat together as a family, with no TV whenever possible.
• Review iron and calcium sources in diet.
• Do not reward /comfort with food.
• Vitamins are not necessary unless you need fluoride supplementation. If you are concerned that he/she doesn't eat a balanced diet a multivitamin is iron okay.

Hygiene

• Continue taking your child to the dentist every 6 months. Ask for fluoride supplements if your child drinks non-fluorinated water.
• Acne and body odor may appear. Daily showers and antiperspirant may be appropriate. When acne first appears washing with mild soap twice a day may be helpful. Ask about other helpful treatments available.

Tests Today

Vision and hearing screenings

Immunizations Today

Recommended immunizations at this age include Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough booster), Menactra (meningococcal meningitis), and Gardasil (Human Papillomavirus). For more information please visit Immunization Schedule under "Keeping Kids Healthy" tab.

Next Visit

Every other year. Some camp and sports forms require a yearly physical exam so please plan ahead. Summer is a good time to schedule your well child physicals at this age

Books/Resources

• What's Happening to My Body? Book for Girls A Growing up Guide for Parents and Daughters by Lynda Madaras
• What's Happening to My Body? Book for Boys: A Growing up Guide for Parents and Sons by Lynda Madaras
• The Care and Keeping of You: The Body Book for Girls (American Girls Library)
• The Feelings Book: The Care and Keeping of Your Emotions (American Girl Library)
• www.aap.org
• www.teengrowth.com
• www.youngwomenshealth.org
• www.kidshealth.org