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.
- Movement ¢ Your child may:
- Be able to write and draw well
- Kick a ball while running
- Be independent in bathing or showering
- Enjoy team or organized sports
- Have better hand " eye coordination
- Hearing, seeing, and talking ¢ Your child will likely:
- Have a longer attention span
- Be able to tell time
- Enjoy reading
- Understand concepts of counting, same and different, and time
- Be able to talk almost at the level of an adult
- Feelings and behavior ¢ Your child will likely:
- Want to do a very good job and be upset if making mistakes
- Take direction well
- Understand the difference between right and wrong
- May have low self confidence
- Need encouragement and positive feedback
- Want to fit in with peers
- Feeding ¢ Your child needs:
- 3 servings of lowfat or fat-free milk each day
- 5 servings of fruits and vegetables each day
- To start each day with a healthy breakfast
- To be given a variety of healthy foods. Many children like to help cook and make food fun.
- To limit fruit juice, soda, chips, candy, and foods high in fats
- To eat meals as a part of the family. Turn the TV and cell phone off while eating. Talk about your day, rather than focusing on what your child is eating.
- Sleep ¢ Your child:
- Is likely sleeping about 10 hours in a row at night. Try to have the same routine before bedtime. Read to your child each night before bed. Have your child brush teeth before going to bed as well.
- Shots or vaccines ¢ It is important for your child to get a flu vaccine each year.
Help for Parents
- Play with your child.
- 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. 1 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 playing with friends. Provide a safe area for play.
- Read to your child. Have your child read to you.
- Here are some things you can do to help keep your child safe and healthy.
- Have your child brush teeth 2 to 3 times each day. Children this age are able to floss their teeth as well. Your child should also see a dentist 1 to 2 times each year for a cleaning and checkup.
- Put sunscreen with a SPF30 or higher on your child at least 15 to 30 minutes before going outside. Put more sunscreen on after about 2 hours.
- 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.
- Your child needs to ride in a booster seat until 4 feet 9 inches (145 cm) tall. After that, make sure your child uses a seat belt when riding in the car. Your child should ride in the back seat until at least 13 years old.
- Take extra care around water. Consider teaching your child to swim.
- Never leave your child alone. Do not leave your child in the car or at home alone, even for a few minutes.
- 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 means TV, phones, computers, or video games.
- Parents need to think about:
- Teaching your child what to do in case of an emergency
- Monitoring your child 's computer use, especially if on the Internet
- Talking to your child about strangers, unwanted touch, and keeping private parts safe
- How to talk to your child 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 8 to 9 years old. At this visit your doctor may:
- Do a full check up on your child
- Talk about limiting screen time for your child, how well your child is eating, and how to promote physical activity
- Ask how your child is doing at school and how your child gets along with other children
- Talk about signs of puberty
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Fever of 100.4 °F (38 °C) or higher
- Has trouble eating or sleeping
- Has trouble in 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/middle.html
KidsHealth
http://kidshealth.org/parent/growth/medical/checkup_7yrs.html
Last Reviewed Date
2015-02-02
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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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Copyright © 2016 Wolters Kluwer Clinical Drug Information, Inc. and its affiliates and/or licensors. All rights reserved.