Your Child's 5-Year Checkup

Checkups are a way to make sure your child is growing well and help you find out if there are any health problems. After the visit, make an appointment for your child's 6-year checkup.

• Help your child learn healthy eating habits:

  • Eat together as a family as often as possible.

  • Teach what a normal-sized portion looks like (for most foods, about the size of your child's palm).

  • When making a plate, half of the plate should be fruits and vegetables, one-quarter should be starch (such as whole-grain pasta or whole-grain bread) and one-quarter should be protein (such as lean meats or fish).

  • Encourage your child to try new foods, but let them decide how much to eat.

  • Limit foods and drinks that are high in sugar (like candy and sports drinks), salt, and fat (like burgers and fries).

  • Limit juice to no more than 4–6 ounces (120–180 ml) (the amount in one juice box) of 100% fruit juice a day.

  • Give your child about 2½ dairy servings a day. This can include low-fat or nonfat milk, fortified soy milk, and low-fat cheese and yogurt. Non-dairy sources of calcium include fortified juice, cereal, and bread; dark leafy greens; and tofu (calcium-set).

• Stay active as a family by visiting parks and playgrounds, taking walks, and playing games (such as tag or catch). Regular activity helps build strong bones, lessens stress, and helps prevent kids from becoming overweight.

• Help your child get about 10–13 hours of sleep each night:

  • Set regular sleep and wake times.

  • Have a relaxing bedtime routine.

  • Avoid scary shows, books, or games before bed.

  • Keep all TVs, video games, tablets, and smartphones out of your child's bedroom.

• Help your child adjust to school:

  • Keep routines for eating, playing, cleaning up, and bedtime.

  • Teach your child to dress, go to the bathroom, and wash hands independently.

  • Visit the school together and meet the teacher.

• Help your child do well in school:

  • Play counting games and sing songs (like the ABCs) together.

  • Draw, color, and practice writing numbers and letters together.

  • Read aloud together every day.

• Children this age learn best by talking and playing with others and touching things in their world. Video chatting is OK, but if your child has other screen time:

  • Choose educational programming and apps.

  • View/play together when possible.

  • Limit screen time to less than 1 hour a day.

  • Do not allow a TV, computer, tablet, or smartphone in your child's bedroom.

• It's normal for children this age to be curious about male and female bodies. Answer your child's questions using simple language and the correct names for body parts.

• To teach responsibility, give simple chores such as helping to set the table or putting dirty clothes in the laundry basket.

• Help your child deal with anger:

  • Teach ways to calm down such as breathing deeply, taking a walk, counting to 10, or playing music.

  • Talk about ways to solve the problem.

  • Teach your child to walk away instead of fighting.

Keep your child safe:

• Switch your child to a booster seat in the back seat if they have reached the weight or height limit of the car seat. Use the booster seat until your child is 4 feet 9 inches (145 cm) tall, usually between 8 and 12 years of age.

• Teach how to be safe with adults. Tell your child to come to you right away if anyone:

  • wants to see or touch private parts or asks for help with private parts

  • asks for a secret to be kept from parents

  • makes them feel uncomfortable or unsafe

• Teach your child how to swim but still watch them closely when near or in water.

• Have your child wear a helmet when biking, riding a skateboard or scooter, skating, skiing, snowboarding, or horseback riding, or when in a child carrier on an adult bike.

• Do not let anyone smoke around your child.

• Practice crossing the street together (look both ways, listen for cars), but do not let your child cross the street without an adult.

• A gun in the home increases the risk of accidents and injuries. If you do have a gun, keep it unloaded and locked up. Lock up bullets separately from the gun. Ask if there are guns in homes where your child visits and if they are stored safely.

Prepare for emergencies:

• Talk about what to do in case of an emergency, including how to dial 911.

• Put smoke and carbon monoxide alarms near all sleeping areas and on every level of your home. Test batteries monthly and change at least once a year.

• Make a fire escape plan and practice twice a year with everyone who lives at home. Include:

  • two ways to get out of every room

  • a safe place to meet outside the house

• Take care of your child's teeth:

  • Take your child to the dentist every 6 months or as recommended by the dentist.

  • Follow your health care provider's or dentist's recommendations about getting a fluoride coating (called a varnish) on your child's teeth.

  • Teach your child to brush their teeth (with your help) twice a day. Use a soft toothbrush and a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Brush for 2 minutes and encourage your child to spit after brushing.

  • As soon as two teeth touch, help your child floss between them every day.

  • If your child is thirsty between meals or at night, give water only. Do not let your child sip juice or milk throughout the day or in bed because this can cause tooth decay.

• In the sun, protect your child's skin with a water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30, and re-apply every 2 hours or more often if swimming or sweating. It's best to keep your child in the shade, especially between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

• Follow your health care provider's instructions on immunizations (shots) and testing.

• Your health care provider can tell you about help that is available in the community or through a social worker. Talk to your health care provider if you're worried that:

  • You don't have enough food for your child.

  • You don't have a safe place to live.

  • You don't have health insurance.

  • You have a problem with drugs or alcohol.

• Call your child's health care provider if you have concerns about your child's health, growth, or development.