| Physical Development: |
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Physical developments slows but agility and coordination improve. Development of secondary sex characteristics with organ enlargement begins 2-4 years before puberty: Girls - growth spurt at 9-14 years (average 3 ½ inches /yr. and 2 ¼ lb./yr.); breast enlargement at 8-13 years; menses at 10-16 years. Boys - growth spurt at 10 ½ - 13 ½ years (average 4 ½ inches/yr. and 2 ¾ lb./yr.); enlarged testes at 9 ½ - 13 ½ years.
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| Social Development: |
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Observation of peer groups, school, and community groups regarding cultures, morals and values of others is important. Preadolescents will evaluate these in relation to family patterns and establish their own standards after a long period of trial and error. Reinforcement of appropriate behavior by a significant adult is vital in establishing behavioral standards, curfews, and extracurricular activities. These guidelines provide security of behavioral limits.
Sexual identity is dependent on the stage of growth and development with respect to awareness of an interest in the opposite sex. Girls mature earlier than boys in this aspect. Supply necessary information and vocabulary about sex, before emotions become mixed with facts. Provide factual information on the reproductive process, male and female body, terminology, birth control, and venereal diseases.
Peers’ opinions are valued more than parents’. Participation in school and community groups provides contact with a wider group than the child’s own clique as well as offering activities that help them reach beyond their own self-interests.
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| Nutrition: |
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Preadolescents should begin taking responsibility for and obtaining adequate diet from the basic food groups. They can understand the difference between nutritional foods and junk foods. Offer 3 meals and 2 nutritious snacks a day to begin developing a lifetime habit of healthy eating.
Model and encourage good eating habits. Allow them to participate in meal planning, shopping, and meal preparation.
They are entering high risk period for eating disorders. This is displayed in the use of food, either eating too much or not enough as a means of gaining attention and satisfaction. Chubbiness before and during this period may lead to extreme dieting which may interfere with growth.
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| Oral Health: |
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Schedule visits to the dentist twice a year and encourage at least twice daily brushing and flossing. Discuss fluoride treatments with the dentist if there is no fluoride in drinking water.
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| Sleep: |
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Encourage an adequate schedule of sleep and rest. This will depend on each child’s needs but is generally between 8-10 hours a night.
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| Behavior: |
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This is a period of indecision and confusion. They learn through trial and error. As a result they may be very self-conscious, indecisive, stubborn and argumentative. They continues to need the family to provide acceptance and feelings of self-worth. They are moving toward having enough self-esteem to make appropriate decisions. And are able to predict and accept consequences of their decisions.
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| Injury Prevention: |
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Recognize that the child may make errors in judgment due to increased risk-taking behaviors. Enforce consistent, explicit and firm rules for safe behavior. Always wear seat belts.
Bike helmets should be worn at all times; most injuries on bikes involve falls not cars. Reinforce bike safety rules and the use of proper traffic signals. Provide supervision in a safe environment before and after school. Guns should be stored outside the home if possible. If not, lock them in a cabinet and keep the ammunition in a separate location. A trigger lock is another important precaution.
Reinforce safe behaviors regarding:
- Swimming - Teach the child how to swim.
- Home - Discuss safety rules, including what to do when home alone and what to do in case of fire or other emergencies. Conduct fire drills and check smoke detectors often with yearly battery changes. Also discuss appropriate behavior around visitors and concerning use of the telephone.
- Traveling to and from school- Reinforce pedestrian safety skills.
- Interacting with strangers - Discuss answering the door and phone, and warn against getting into cars.
- Sports - Use protective sports gear such as mouth guards and face protectors.
- Playground safety.
- Enforce the use of sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or greater before going out to play or swim.
- Continue to keep the child’s environment smoke free.
- Talk with your child about avoiding street drugs, alcohol and tobacco.
- Discourage exposure to high noise levels, especially with the use of music headsets.
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| A physical examinations is recommended every 1 to 3 years depending on the child’s needs. At these appointments the child is tested for anemia through a blood test. A urine sample will be taken and a vision test conducted. |
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