What to Expect At This Visit:
At this age, there are no scheduled vaccinations.
Vaccine Information: The American Academy of Pediatrics
Development:
Note: Please know that the development of each child is unique and special. The following information on development is general and meant for informational purposes only. If you are concerned about the development of your child, please let your pediatrician know.
*As your child continues to mature, encourage your child to accept more responsibility.
*Encourage your child to talk about their feelings, always making time to talk to your child about his/her day. Now is a good age to start establishing healthy ways to relieve stress.
The AAP has a helpful article on stress relief for kids, click here.
*While most children do not start puberty until later, now is a good time to start discussions about puberty. Explain to your child about their growth and the changes that will occur with his/her body.
Daily Life:
Feeding:
*Childhood obesity rates are on the rise. Encourage healthy habits in your child. Teach your child to make healthy food choices. Limit the amount of fast food your child eats. The Food Pyramid helps explain the recommended amount of each food group your child should consume daily
*If your child is thirsty, encourage milk or water. Children ages 4 to 8 years old require 2 cups of a milk a day. Since juice has added sugar and has a risk of cavities, limit the amount to juice to no more than 4-6 ounces a day.
Sleeping:
Fun & Play:
*Encourage your child to be active 60 minutes a day. For every half hour of tv or video games your child watches, have your child spend 30 minutes of active play.
*To help prevent injuries with active play and sports, always encourage your child to use protective equipment: helmets, wristguards, mouthguards, etc.
Safety:
*Make sure knows how to dial 911 in case of emergency.
*Teach your child that it is always all right for them to ask to come home if they are uncomfortable outside of the home. If your child is uncomfortable at a friend's house, tell your child that they can always call home.
*Teach your child to never open door to strangers.
*While your child is still required to sit in the backseat of the car until they are 13 years old. A booster seat is no longer recommended when your child is 3’ 9’ tall (usually at 8-12 years old).
*Continue to encourage bicycle safety. Children should always wear a helmet. Parents should wear helmets while riding their bicycle as a role model to your child. Also teach your child to never ride in the street or at night.
*Grade school is a good time to teach your child the dangers of drugs and alcohol. Starting this education at an early time will help build a foundation to prevent drug use in the future. Teach your child about cigarettes. A good way to start this conversation is to ask them what they know about cigarettes.
*Continue to practice gun safety. Keep any firearms locked separately from locked ammunition. Teach your child that guns are not toys. To get the conversation rolling, ask your child what they would do if they ever saw a gun?
*As your child begins to use the computer, talk to your child about internet danger.
Check website history and download a safety filter on your computer. Never let your child chat on the internet without asking for permission first. Explain to your child that they should never feel scared online. Remind them never to don’t give out any personal information online.
Health:
Parents & Family:
Useful Resources & Links:
TIPP (The Injury Prevention Program) safety sheet for 8 year olds