Your Child's 11-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. Return in 1 year for your child's 12-year checkup.

• Help your child learn healthy diet choices:

  • Eat together as a family as often as possible.

  • Offer a well-balanced diet that includes lean protein (like chicken and fish), whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and low-fat dairy.

  • Give your child about 3 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).

  • If your child drinks juice, limit it to no more than 8 ounces (240 ml) of 100% juice a day.

  • Read food labels together to limit foods that are high in fat (such as fatty meats and fried food), added sugar (soda, sports drinks, etc.), and salt (such as fast food).

• Encourage your child to get at least 1 hour of physical activity every day. Riding a bike, running, and gymnastics are great ways for kids this age to stay active.

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

  • Balance screen use with healthy behaviors like spending time with others, being physically active, and getting enough sleep.

  • Make the bedroom a media-free room.

  • Make mealtimes media-free.

• Talk about the dangers of smoking (including e-cigarettes), using drugs, and drinking alcohol.

• Talk about relationships and sex. Encourage your child to wait until they're older for sexual activity. Explain the risks of sexually transmitted infections or STIs (also called sexually transmitted diseases or STDs) and unwanted pregnancy. Be open to questions about sexuality and gender identity.

• Set a good example by making your own healthy behavior choices.

• To help your child do well in school:

  • Stay involved with the school and talk to the teachers regularly.

  • Work together to develop a system to organize assignments and homework.

  • Provide a quiet place without distractions for homework.

  • Encourage 9–12 hours of sleep each night.

  • Encourage reading.

  • Talk to your child regularly about school, friends, and teachers. Discuss any concerns with the teacher, school counselor, and/or principal.

  • Praise efforts and accomplishments.

  • Offer support if needed.

• Help your child find interesting activities (such as sports and clubs) to try.

• By 11 years of age, it's common for kids to show signs of puberty, such as oily skin, body odor, growth spurts, and hair growth in the armpits and pubic area. Girls and boys have other changes too:

  • In girls, puberty usually starts with breast development and then the growth of pubic hair. Menstruation (periods) usually follows about 2 years after breast development begins. Most girls get their first period when they're 12 or 13 years old; others get it as early as age 9 or as late as age 16. Talk to your daughter about menstruation before she gets her first period.

  • In boys, testicular enlargement is usually the first sign of puberty. The penis gets longer and pubic hair begins to grow. The voice may begin to deepen and crack. Reassure your son that wet dreams (ejaculation during sleep) are normal.

• Discuss the need for regular bathing. Some kids may need to start wearing deodorant.

• Set reasonable rules and expectations. Use appropriate consequences for breaking rules. Praise your child for making good decisions.

• It's normal for kids this age to become more interested in friends than in family. They also may want more privacy and independence. Give some space to grow but stay connected.

• Build independence by encouraging your child to:

  • Take more responsibility for schoolwork.

  • Make more decisions, such as which activities to do and when to do homework.

  • Try to work through problems before asking for your help.

  • Have responsibilities at home, such as keeping their bedroom clean or taking out the trash.

• Talk about ways to deal with anger and fear without using violence.

• Your child should continue to ride in the back seat of a car and always wear a seatbelt. Use a booster seat until your child is 4 feet 9 inches (145 cm) tall.

• 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. Teach your child what kinds of searches, texts, pictures, and posts are appropriate and safe. Talk about cyberbullying.

• Get to know your child's friends and their parents. Know where your child is and what they're doing.

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

• Do not let your child ride an all-terrain vehicle (ATV), such as a mini-bike, 3-wheeler, or quad.

• 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.

• Make sure your child brushes their teeth with fluoride toothpaste twice daily, flosses once a day, and sees a 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.

• At the 12-year checkup, your health care provider will ask questions to see if your child feels depressed. Signs of depression include sadness, worsening grades, loss of interest in activities, and talk of suicide. If you notice any of these signs, call your health care provider right away.

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