MIDDLE CHILDHOOD: 5 & 6 Year Visits
Lifespan Ages & Stages:
Reminder: The Middle Childhood section has many recommendations for children as they grow. Most important, what you do at home every day matters and will have lifelong impact on your child's health and well-being.
Body Mass Index (BMI)
A measure used to help determine healthy weight. For children 2 – 19 years it is based on height, weight, and a child's developmental age. Learn more.
Getting Ready for this Visit
Write down your questions. Share anything new and exciting. These are important! You and your child should be ready to participate fully in the visit. You are a partner with your health care provider; your child is learning.
Children with special needs: Discuss how school is going, support services, etc. Bring your child's updated or new Individualized Education Program (IEP) to the visit, mention treatments, medications, or visits to specialists.
At this age, your child may:
- Balance on one foot, hop, and skip
- Hold a pencil well: draw a person with 6 body parts; write some letters and numbers; copy squares and triangles
- Tie a knot; dress and undress
- Speak clearly; tell a story with full sentences; use past and present tense; use I, you, and we correctly
- Count to 10; name at least 4 colors
- Pay attention; follow simple directions
What's Important for this Visit
YOUR questions and concerns are the #1 priority! Your health care provider may also discuss:
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School readiness: Routines; after school care and activities; parent-teacher communication; friends; bullying; emotions
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Social and emotional health (mental health): Family time; temper; getting along with others
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Food/eating and physical activity: Healthy weight; healthy meals and snacks; fruits/vegetables/whole grains; calcium for growing bones; at least 1 hour of daily activity/exercise
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Oral health: Daily brushing/flossing; fluoride; dental home, regular dentist visits
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Safety: Walking safely; car booster seat; helmets; swimming; sexual abuse; fire safety; smoke and carbon monoxide detectors; guns locked up
The 5 & 6 Year Visit: What To Expect
Your health care provider will do a physical exam and measure height, weight, Body Mass Index (BMI), and blood pressure. Check eyes, teeth, and mouth. Watch how he walks, uses fingers and hands. Listen to how he speaks and understands. Carry out screening tests: vision, hearing, others as needed.
- Immunizations: See chart for any needed at this age.