The Basics
Kids ages 5 to 10 need to go to the doctor or nurse for a “well-child visit” once a year. A well-child visit is when you take your child to the doctor for a full checkup, separate from any other visit for sickness or injury.
At these visits, the doctor or nurse can help catch problems early, when they may be easier to treat. Make the most of your child’s visit by:
- Gathering important information
- Making a list of questions for the doctor
- Knowing what to expect from the visit
What about cost?
Well-child visits are covered under the new Affordable Care Act. Depending on your insurance plan, your child may be able to get well-child checkups at no cost to you. Check with your insurance provider.
The Basics
How do I know if my child is growing and developing on schedule?
Your child’s doctor or nurse can help you identify the signs (called developmental milestones) to look for in your child. This is an important part of the well-child visit.
Some developmental milestones for children ages 5 to 10 include:
- Developing skills for success in school (like sorting, counting, and language skills)
- Taking over body care (like bathing, brushing teeth, and getting dressed)
- Learning from mistakes or failures and trying again
- Helping out with simple chores
- Following family rules
- Bringing friends home to play and getting invited to friends’ homes
- Joining school clubs, teams, or other activities
Learn more about the social and emotional development of kids ages 5 to 10 [PDF - 848 KB].
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