Your 7 to 8 Year Old Child
Diet:
·
Your job as parent is to choose the best foods for your child. Offer
3 regular meals and healthy snacks. Increase consumption of fruits,
vegetables, and whole grains. Try to eat meals as a family and turn
off the television!
·
Limit fast foods, junk foods and sweets. Water instead of soda and
sport drinks is preferred. Limit juice to 4-6 oz of 100% fruit
juice. Do not serve fruit drinks or sticky fruit snacks.
·
Your child should drink 16-24 oz. of skim or low fat milk each day.
Other dairy products, like yogurt and cheese are important for
calcium needs.
·
Breakfast is very important. Research shows that eating breakfast
helps children learn and behave better in school.
·
We
provide you with the BMI (body mass index) in the header above and
we may counsel you about better food choices, portion control, and
increased exercise if the BMI is too high.
·
Multivitamins may be used if your child’s diet is consistently
inadequate.
Elimination:
·
Between 7-8 years, bed-wetting is still not a major issue.
Aggressive therapy is not indicated. If interested, we have some
suggestions. Talk to your provider. After age 8, bedwetting should
be evaluated by a specialist.
·
If
infrequent hard and/or painful stools are the norm, let us know so
we may help manage the constipation.
Sleep:
·
A
regular bedtime routine is very important to children. Between 7-8
years of age, the average child should sleep 10-11 hours per day.
·
Nighttime fears, nightmares are common problems.
Development:
·
 A
7 or 8 year old child has a newly formed superego or conscience that
allows the understanding of rules, relationships, and social
principles. The peer group becomes increasingly important, he/she
may identify with children who have similar interests and
abilities. The child may experience internal conflict when beliefs
and ideals of the family and peers clash. Talk to your child about
these concepts.
·
If
you haven’t started them already, encourage responsibilities and
chores...this will foster a sense of independence and personal
competence. This pride may carry over as your child attempts
activities that may be more difficult or require increased
responsibility.
Safety:
·
Children under 8 years must be secured in a booster seat in the back
seat. Always read the manufacturer’s instructions for use. Note the
weight limits, and use an appropriate size for your child. They
should ride in the back seat until 13 years. 1-866-SEATCHECK or
www.seatcheck.org
·
Children ages 8 through 15 years must be secured in either a booster
seat or a lap/shoulder restraint. Be a role model for your child
and buckle up too.
·
Guns are dangerous! If you must keep one, store it unloaded and keep
the gun and ammunition locked in separate places.
·
 Teach
your child the dangers of cars in the street, but still closely
supervise your child when near a street.
·
Secure blind cords.
·
Use sunscreen with SPF >15.
·
Encourage organized swimming lessons. Knowing how to “swim” does
not ensure safety in or near water at this age. He/she still needs
to be monitored. Use an age/weight appropriate Coast Guard approved
life jacket at beaches and on boats, especially for the non-swimmer.
·
 Use
a properly fitted bicycle helmet and protective gear and teach
bicycle and roller-blade safety. Shoes with skates attached
(“Heelys”) are not safe without a helmet either. Now is the time to
teach the rules of the road.
·
Use appropriate protective equipment during all sports – helmet,
mouth guard, and shatterproof eye gear.
·
As
your child matures, discuss avoidance of tobacco, alcohol, drugs,
and guns in a more detailed manner.
·
Keep matches and lighters away from children. Never allow your
child to play with fireworks, firecrackers, or sparklers. Talk to
them about the dangers of fire.
·
Develop a fire escape plan for your home and teach your child. Draw
pictures and a map. Teach don’t run…but stop, drop, and roll if they
come into contact with fire. Reinforce what to do in case of
emergency, especially dialing 911.
·
Bubble baths are not recommended-especially for little girls- they
can be associated with urinary tract infections.
·
Discuss stranger safety, playground safety and sports safety. Try
role playing about the dangers of strangers.
Other Things to
Keep in Mind:
·
Dental Care - Schedule dental visits every 6 months, have your child
brush at least twice a day using a soft toothbrush and a small
amount of fluoridated toothpaste. Flossing should be done everyday.
·
Help your child learn about healthy lifestyles – especially
exercise. Encourage physical activity for 60 minutes/day. You are
their role model.
·
Limit the amount of TV and monitor the types of shows your child
watches. Limit computer and video games. Avoid the violent games.
Set reasonable rules and guidelines for tv/computer use (1-2 hours
total) and post them in the house.
·
 The
computer should be in a prominent location in the house to monitor
your child’s internet activity. The computer should not be in your
child’s room. Teach your child to never give out identifying
information-home address, school name, or telephone numbers while
chatting. Get to know the services and websites that your child
uses. Find out what types of information the site
offers
and whether there are ways to block objectionable material.
Encourage your children to tell you if they encounter messages that
are suggestive, obscene, threatening or make your child feel
uncomfortable. A safety filter may be helpful, but will still allow
a little independence.
·
Children continue to be very curious about their bodies at this age.
Answer questions about body parts in a simple honest way. Use
correct terms for body parts. Let your child know that the parts of
the body under a bathing suit are “privates” because we keep them
covered and because you are the only one in charge of them. Teach
your child that it is never all right for an adult to tell a child
to keep a secret from you, to express interest in private parts, or
to ask a child for help with his/her private parts.
·
Teach your child that it is always OK to ask a grownup for help if
he/she is scared or worried. And it is OK to ask to go home and be
with a parent whenever he/she wants.
·
Spend quality time with your child everyday. Read books with your
child, encourage hobbies, take an interest in your child’s day at
school, and get to know your child’s friends. Show affection and
pride in your child’s special strengths and use praise liberally.
·
Do
not over schedule your child. Too many activities can stress a
child and family. Grades may suffer too.
·
Do
not hit, shake, or spank your child. Instead, talk about reasonable
consequences for breaking the rules and make sure to follow through
on the agreed-upon consequences if a rule is broken.
At Today’s
Checkup:
·
Your child will have a physical examination. Your questions and
concerns will be answered. A routine urinalysis will be done. A
hearing screening may be performed. Please let us know if you have
concerns.
·
In addition to catch up vaccinations, the Hepatitis A series of 2
may be started.
Children’s
Acetaminophen Dose:
Every 4-6 hours and no more than 4 doses/day
 36-47
lb. = 1 ½ tsp.
48-59 lb. = 2 tsp.
60-71 lb. = 2 ½ tsp.
Children’s
Ibuprofen Dose:
Every 6-8 hours
36-47 lb. = 1 ½
tsp.
48-59 lb. = 2 tsp.
60-71 lb. = 2 ½
tsp.
Additional
Instructions:
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