Your 6 to 12 Year Old

Between the ages of 6-12 years old, it is extremely important to have your child seen yearly for routine physicals.

Diet

Fiber is a very important part of a child’s diet and is usually lacking.  Consider switching to whole grain pastas, brown rice, and whole wheat bread.  There are a wide variety of Fiber One products in stores.  Offer fresh fruits and vegetables daily. 

Discourage soda as much as possible.  Many kids waste a lot of calories on drinks.  It is better for children to eat their calories.  Water is the best option.  Dilute juice if necessary. 

Avoid eating in fast food restaurants more than once per month.  Make healthy choices for your child.  He or she will learn how to eat healthy from you.  Bake at home instead of frying whenever possible. 

In trying to choose the healthy options, be wary of diet foods and foods with artificial ingredients and sweeteners. 

If your child is becoming overweight, please schedule an appointment to check his or her weight and discuss their diet as soon as possible. 

Continue to administer a multi-vitamin with fluoride once daily.  Please let us know when you need prescription refills.  Your child’s dose increases at 6 and then remains the same until they transition to an adult multi-vitamin. 

Bathroom Habits

 Make sure your child is going to the bathroom regularly.  At this age, children are usually more independent and parents are less involved.  Ask about your children’s habits frequently as a problem may be in existence that you will not be aware of unless you ask. Most children do not know or care to know about what is normal and what is not.  Further, they often are busy and ignore urges to empty their bladder or bowels.  This can lead to problems such as urinary tract infections and/ or constipation.   Remind children to urinate frequently.  Allow time for your child to have a bowel movement at least once daily.  If you are concerned about your child’s bowel or bladder habits, please let us know. 

Activity

• Sometimes a healthy diet is not enough for your child to stay in shape. Encourage at least 30-60 minutes of active play or physical activity per day. This is easier during the warmer months. In the winter, activities such as dance, gymnastics, karate, and organized sporting activities etc help to make this possible.
• Keep all dangerous objects and materials like caustic cleaning agents, sharp tools, and all firearms stored out of reach, out of sight, and locked away for security.
• Booster seats are necessary for children who have outgrown their forward facing car seats.  Booster seats are designed to raise the child up so that the lap and shoulder seat belts fit properly. High-back and backless booster seats are available. Many seats that look like high-back boosters are actually combination seats. They come with harnesses that can be used for smaller children and can then be removed for older children.  Booster seats should be used until your child can correctly fit in lap and shoulder seat belts, which is usually around 4’ 9’’ or 57 inches regardless of age.  This may surprise some parents.   Children who have outgrown their booster seats should ride in a lap and shoulder seat belt in the back seat until 13 years of age.
• Don’t let your child forget to brush their teeth at least twice a day.  Your child should be visiting the dentist for routine cleanings and exams about every six months.
• Do your best to restrict TV, video game, and computer time to 2-4 hours per day.  Monitor your child’s internet exposure/ activity closely.
• Sunscreen should be applied every time your child is out in the sun.  It should be reapplied often.   An SPF of 30 or more is recommended. 
• Monitor your child at the pool or beach at all times.  Educate your children never to swim unsupervised.  Even strong swimmers have accidents.  Strongly consider purchasing a pool safety fence or cover for your home pool.  Lock all hot tub covers. 
• Insect repellent may be used, if desired.  Deet-free brands are preferable.  To be safe, only apply insect repellents to exposed skin. Do not apply it under clothing, on a child's hands, near the mouth or eyes, or over cuts and irritated skin.  Wash off insect repellents once it is no longer needed. Combination sunscreen/insect repellent products should be avoided, as sunscreen needs to be reapplied often.  Insect repellent should only be applied once per day.  
• Helmet safety is extremely important.  Make sure your child always wears a helmet when riding a bicycle, skateboard, scooter, or when using roller blades. 
• Your child is checked for scoliosis (curvature of the spine) at each yearly physical.  Scoliosis can progress during rapid growth spurts.  If you have concerns, a positive family history of scoliosis, or your child has had a positive screen, please make us aware as this may change our approach. 

Blood testing

We routinely send all one, two, and five-year-olds for blood testing.  Children should probably go about every 3-5 years thereafter.  If your child has never had blood work drawn, is due, or has had abnormal results in the past, please let us know.  If you have any other concerns regarding your child’s health, would like any other testing done, or have a family history of any disorder, please let us know as soon as possible. 

If your child is sent for blood work, please remember that we report all normal and abnormal results.  If you have not received a phone call regarding your results within 5 days of going, please notify our office.  When you call, please let the receptionist know where and when you took your child so that we may track down their results. 

Vaccines

Your child may or may not receive immunizations during their yearly physicals between 6-12 years of age.  Please visit the vaccine section of this website for more information on specific vaccines and their administration schedule.   This changes frequently for children within this age group as new vaccines are always being developed.  

Please note that we will not administer vaccines to any child whose parent or guardian is not present for the visit.  This is our office policy.  We understand that parents have busy schedules but no exceptions to this rule will be made.

Medicines

Tylenol and Motrin can be safely given to your child.  Please ask for our dosing chart or follow the instructions on the packaging.  Let us know if you have any questions.  If you are using either medication regularly, please notify our office.  Please ask us before using administering any other medication/ vitamin supplement to your child.