what to expect at your 12 year old physical

Dwelling | Patients and Families | Health Library | Your Child's Checkup: 12 Years

What to Expect During This Visit

Your dr. and/or nurse will probably:

one. Bank check your child's weight and height, summate torso mass alphabetize (BMI), and plot the measurements on growth charts.

2. Check your child'south claret force per unit area and vision using standard testing equipment. Hearing may be checked.

3. Requite a screening examination that helps identify children with depression.

three. Ask questions, accost concerns, and offer communication near your child's:

Eating. At this historic period, kids should brainstorm making salubrious food choices on their own. Your child'due south diet should include lean protein, whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and low-fat dairy. Kids this age should get iii cups (720 ml) of low-fat or nonfat milk (or of low-fat or nonfat dairy products) daily. Aim for five servings of fruits and vegetables per day. Limit high-sugar and high-fatty foods and drinks.

Sleeping. Kids this age need virtually nine–12 hours of sleep per night. Lack of sleep can brand it hard to pay attention at school. Set a bedtime that allows for enough slumber and encourage your child to follow a relaxing bedtime routine. Keep TVs and all digital devices out of your child'southward bedroom.

Physical action. Kids this age should get at least 60 minutes of physical activeness per twenty-four hour period. Set daily limits on screen time, including Tv set, DVDs, video games, smartphones, tablets, and computers.

Growth and evolution. By 12 years, information technology'due south common for many kids to:

• Prove some signs of puberty:
  • In girls, puberty usually starts when they're between 8 and xiii with breast development and the appearance of pubic hair. Menstruation normally follows almost ii years after breast evolution begins.
  • In boys, testicular enlargement is the first sign of puberty. It happens around age 11, merely may beginning as early on as 9 years and equally late equally 15. Penile lengthening and the appearance of pubic hair follow.
• accept oily skin and/or acne
• non e'er connect their actions with futurity consequences
• want to exist independent and fit in with peers
• focus on personal appearance and behavior (they think all eyes are on them)
• desire to engage in risky behaviors

After talking with y'all, the md may asking some time solitary with your child to respond whatever additional questions.

4. Do a concrete exam. This will include looking at the skin, listening to the eye and lungs, examining the back for whatever curvature of the spine, and checking for the signs of puberty. A parent, caregiver, or chaperone should be present during this part of the examination, simply siblings should remain exterior in the waiting room to give your child privacy.

5. Update immunizations. Immunizations can protect kids from serious childhood illnesses, so it's of import that your child get them on time. Immunization schedules can vary from office to function, so talk to your physician about what to expect.

6. Order tests. Your doctor may assess your child'due south risk for anemia, high cholesterol, and tuberculosis and gild tests, if needed.

Looking Ahead

Here are some things to keep in heed until your child's adjacent checkup at 13 years:

School

1. Encourage your child to participate in a variety of activities, including music, arts and crafts, sports, after-school clubs, and other activities of interest.
2. Praise accomplishments and provide support in areas where your kid struggles.
3. Provide a placidity place to exercise homework. Minimize distractions, such as TV and cell phones.
4. Equally schoolwork gets harder, your child may struggle academically. If this happens, work with the school staff to determine the crusade, such a learning or attention problem, bullying, or other stressors.
5. Peer pressure tin can lead to risky behaviors, such equally drinking or smoking. Know who your kids are spending time with and make sure that an adult is monitoring them.

Cocky

1. Spend fourth dimension with your child every day. Share mealtimes, be agile together, and talk about things that are of import to your child.
2. Set rules and explain your expectations. Take fair consequences for rule-breaking. Praise expert choices.
3. Be prepared to answer questions about puberty and the feelings associated with those changes. Be open to questions about gender identity and sexuality. Encourage your child to bring questions or concerns to yous.
4. In girls, the first menstrual period (menarche) commonly happens past age thirteen, but it tin can come as late as historic period 15. Talk to your daughter about menstruum before menarche occurs and encourage her to come to you one time information technology does.
5. Encourage your kid to wait until he or she is older to engage in sexual activity with others. Explain the gamble of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and unwanted pregnancy.
6. Encourage your child to bathe or shower daily. If body smell is a business, have your child apply a deodorant.
7. Make certain your child brushes his or her teeth twice daily, flosses once a day, and sees a dentist once every 6 months.
8. Expect for signs of depression, which can include irritability, sadness, loss of interest in activities, poor academic performance, and talk of suicide.

Safety

1. Talk to your child about the dangers of smoking, vaping, alcohol, and drugs.
2. Preteens should continue to ride in the dorsum seat and always wear a seatbelt while in a vehicle.
3. Make certain your child wears a helmet while riding a bike, skateboard, or scooter.
4. Your kid should apply sunscreen of SPF xxx or college at least 15 minutes earlier going outside and reapply virtually every two hours
5. Protect your kid from secondhand fume and secondhand vapor from eastward-cigarettes.
6. Monitor your child's Net usage. Proceed the family calculator in a place where you tin can lookout what your child is doing. Install safety filters and check the browser history to come across what websites your child has visited.
7. Talk to your child about online safety, cyberbulling, and advisable use of social media.
8. Protect your child from gun injuries by not keeping a gun in the dwelling. If you lot do have a gun, proceed it unloaded and locked abroad. Ammunition should be locked up separately. Make sure kids cannot access the keys.
9. Talk to your doctor if you're concerned most your living state of affairs. Do you lot take the things that you need to accept care of your child? Exercise you accept plenty nutrient, a safe place to alive, and health insurance? Your doc can tell you about community resource or refer y'all to a social worker.

These checkup sheets are consequent with the American University of Pediatrics (AAP)/Bright Futures guidelines.

Notation: All information is for educational purposes but. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and handling, consult your physician.
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Source: https://www.hopkinsallchildrens.org/Patients-Families/Health-Library/HealthDocNew/Your-Child-s-Checkup-12-Years

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