Your Child's 8-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 9-year checkup.

• Help your child learn healthy eating habits:

  • Eat together as a family as often as possible.

  • 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). Serve child-sized portions and give seconds only when your child asks.

  • 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 drinks. Limit juice to no more than 8 ounces (240 ml) a day of 100% fruit juice.

  • Limit sweets and high-fat foods.

  • Teach your child to eat when hungry, not out of boredom or habit (such as eating while watching TV), and to stop when full.

• Encourage your child to get at least 1 hour of physical activity every day. Playing outside, climbing, and swimming are great ways for kids 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.

• Encourage your child to try sports, after-school clubs, and other activities of interest.

• Read together. Take turns reading to each other.

• Teach your child that a good friend cares about others' feelings, follows the rules, and helps others.

• If your child is the target of a bully, suggest that they try to walk away and not respond or to say in a clear voice, "Stop what you're doing now, I don't like it." If the bullying continues, make sure your child knows to tell a trusted adult.

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

• Talk about the normal changes that happen during puberty. Answer questions simply and add information as your child becomes interested. Use the proper names for sexual body parts and explain what they do. Talk to your health care provider if you're not sure how to talk to your child about puberty.

• Set clear rules and consequences. Do not hit or spank your child.

• Encourage your child to set goals and to 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.

• Your child should continue to ride in the back seat of the car and use a belt-positioning booster seat until they're 4 feet 9 inches (145 cm) tall, usually between 8 and 12 years of age.

• 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 him or her feel uncomfortable or unsafe

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

• Even if your child knows how to swim, watch closely when they're in the water.

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

• Teach your child to watch carefully for traffic when crossing the street, riding a bike, or playing outside.

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