Well Child Exam 11 to 14 Years

About this topic

Your childs well child exam is a visit with the doctor to check your child's health. The doctor measures your child's weight and height, and may measure your child's body mass index (BMI). The doctor plots these numbers on a growth curve. The growth curve gives a picture of your child's growth at each visit. The doctor may listen to your child's heart, lungs, and belly. Your doctor will do a full exam of your child from the head to the toes. ‚
Your child may also need shots or blood tests during this visit. ‚

General

Growth and Development ‚
Your doctor will ask you how your child is developing. The doctor will focus on the skills that most children your childs age are expected to do. During this time of your child's life, here are some things you can expect. ‚

Physical development ¢ ˆ ’ Your child may:
- Show signs of maturing physically
- Need reminders about drinking water when playing
- Be a little clumsy while growing
Hearing, seeing, and talking ¢ ˆ ’ Your child may:
- Be able to see the long-term effects of actions
- Understand many viewpoints
- Begin to question and challenge existing rules
- Want to help set household rules
Feelings and behavior ¢ ˆ ’ Your child may:
- Want to spend time alone or with friends rather than with family
- Have an interest in dating and the opposite sex
- Value the opinions of friends over parents thoughts or ideas
- Want to push the limits of what is allowed
- Believe bad things won 't happen to them
Feeding ¢ ˆ ’ Your child needs:
- To learn to make healthy choices when eating. Serve healthy foods like lean meats, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Help your child choose healthy foods when out to eat.
- To start each day with a healthy breakfast
- To limit soda, chips, candy, and foods that are high in fats
- Healthy snacks available like fruit, cheese and crackers, or peanut butter
- To eat meals as a part of the family. Turn the TV and cell phones off while eating. Talk about your day, rather than focusing on what your child is eating.
Sleep ¢ ˆ ’ Your child:
- Needs more sleep
- Is likely sleeping about 8 to 10 hours in a row at night
- Should be allowed to read each night before bed. Have your child brush and floss the teeth before going to bed as well.
- Should limit TV and computers for the hour before bedtime
- Should turn off cell phone at night
- Needs a routine to make week nights easier. Encourage your child to get up at a normal time on weekends instead of sleeping late.
Shots or vaccines ¢ ˆ ’ It is important for your child to get shots on time. This protects your child from very serious illnesses like pertussis or some kinds of pneumonia. Your child may need:
- HPV or human papillomavirus vaccine
- DTaP or diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccine
- Meningococcal vaccine
- Influenza vaccine

Help for Parents ‚

Activities.
- Encourage your child to spend at least 1 hour each day being physically active.
- Offer your child a variety of activities to take part in. Include music, sports, arts and crafts, and other things your child is interested in. Take care not to over schedule your child. One to 2 activities a week outside of school is often a good number for your child.
- Make sure your child wears a helmet when using anything with wheels like skates, skateboard, bike, etc.
- Encourage time spent with friends. Provide a safe area for this.
Here are some things you can do to help keep your child safe and healthy.
- Talk to your child about the dangers of smoking, drinking alcohol, and using drugs. Do not allow anyone to smoke in your home or around your child.
- Make sure your child uses a seat belt when riding in the car. Your child should ride in the back seat until 13 years of age.
- Talk with your child about peer pressure. Help your child learn how to handle risky things friends may want to do.
- Remind your child to use headphones responsibly. Limit how loud the volume is turned up. Never wear headphones, text, or use a cell phone while riding a bike or crossing the street.
- Protect your child from gun injuries. If you have a gun, use a trigger lock. Keep the gun locked up and the bullets kept in a separate place.
- Limit screen time for children to 1 to 2 hours per day. This includes TV, phones, computers, and video games.
Parents need to think about:
- Monitoring your child's computer use, especially when on the Internet
- How to keep open lines of communication about unwanted touch, sex, and dating
- How to continue to talk about puberty
- Having your child help with some family chores to encourage responsibility within the family
The next well child visit will most likely be when your child is 15 to 18 years old. At this visit, your doctor may:
- Do a full check up on your child
- Talk about school, friends, and social skills
- Talk about sexuality and sexually-transmitted diseases
- Talk about driving and safety

When do I need to call the doctor?

Fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher
Your child has not started puberty by age 14
Low mood, suddenly getting poor grades, or missing school
You are worried about your childs development

Where can I learn more?

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ‚
http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/childdevelopment/positiveparenting/pdfs/youngteen12-14.pdf ‚
KidsHealth ‚
http://kidshealth.org/parent/growth/medical/checkup_11yrs.html#cat160 ‚
KidsHealth ‚
http://kidshealth.org/parent/growth/medical/checkup_12yrs.html#cat160 ‚
KidsHealth ‚
http://kidshealth.org/parent/growth/medical/checkup_13yrs.html#cat160 ‚
KidsHealth ‚
http://kidshealth.org/parent/growth/medical/checkup_14yrs.html# ‚

Last Reviewed Date

2015-02-03 ‚

List_set bdysylist

Healthy Living
Pediatric

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer

This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care provider 's advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚

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