Your Child's 7-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 8-year checkup.

• Help your child learn healthy eating habits:

  • Eat together as a family as often as possible.

  • When making a plate, half 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). Serve child-sized portions (usually about half the size of adult portions).

  • Teach your child to pay attention to feelings of hunger and fullness.

  • 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).

  • Offer plain water instead of sports drinks, soda, or other sugary beverages. Limit juice to no more than 8 ounces (240 ml) of 100% juice a day.

• Encourage your child to get at least 1 hour of physical activity every day. Playing outside, dancing, and running are great ways for children this age to stay active. Have fun being active together and be a good role model by having your own exercise routine.

• Help your child make a plan for media use (including smartphones, tablets, computers, video games, and TV). The plan should:

  • Help your child balance screen use with healthy behaviors like spending time with others, and getting at least 1 hour of physical activity a day and 9–12 hours of sleep each night.

  • Make the bedroom a media-free room.

  • Make mealtimes media-free.

  • Help your child understand how to use the Internet safely.

• Talk about the dangers of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, drugs, and alcohol.

• Stay involved with your child's school by going to parent–teacher meetings, back-to-school night, and school performances.

• Praise your child for good behavior and for trying hard at school.

• Read together. Take turns reading to each other.

• Talk to your child every day about what went well and what was hard, including how things went with other kids. Ask if your child is worried about anything.

• Talk to your child and your child's teacher if you are worried about bullying or your child's schoolwork.

• Talk about the normal changes that happen in the body during puberty. Answer questions simply and add information as your child becomes interested. Talk to your health care provider if you're not sure how to talk to your child about puberty.

• Talk about rules and consequences with your child. Do not hit or spank your child.

• Discuss being kind and respecting others. Encourage your child to help others in need and set a good example.

• Encourage your child to set goals and take on new challenges. Help your child understand that we can learn from mistakes and failures, and these are a normal part of learning and living.

• Encourage your child to first try to solve problems (such as working through a disagreement with a brother, sister, or friend or figuring out a homework problem) without you.

• Talk to your health care provider if your child is still wetting the bed.

• In the car, use a booster seat for your child until they're 4 feet 9 inches (145 cm) tall (usually between 8 and 12 years of age). The booster seat should be in the back seat.

• Talk about how to be safe with adults. Teach your child to tell 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

• Be sure your child only uses the Internet where you can easily watch. Put safety filters on computers and check which websites your child visits.

• Teach your child how to swim, but still watch closely when they're near or in water.

• Use proper sports safety equipment, including helmets, mouth guards and eye guards, and padding.

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

• Teach your child what to do in case of an emergency, including when and how to dial 911.

• A gun in the home increases the risk of accidents and injuries. If you do have a gun, keep it unloaded and locked up. Bullets should be locked separately from the gun.

• Do not let anyone smoke around your child.

• Continue to help your child brush their teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and floss once a day. Take your child to the dentist every 6 months.

• 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.

• 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.