Oh How They Grow

If the best part of the well child visit is watching your child show off new developmental skills, the second best part is having the opportunity to talk about your child with an expert one-on-one! You can check out an armload of books from the library, log on to an up-to-the-minute child care Web site, or spend hours trading stories with other parents. However, not one of these valuable resources matches the individualized support and professional expertise available to you at each well child visit. Take advantage of this golden opportunity. Go prepared. Check out the list below for age-appropriate discussion topics.

1 Month	2 Months	4 Months
• Crying • Colic • Thumb sucking • Pacifiers • Sleep • Temperament	• Child care • Returning to work	• Talking to your baby • Teething • Bedtime routine • Age-appropriate toys • Reading to your baby
6 Months	9 Months	1 Year
• Talking to your baby • Daily routine • Self-comfort • Transitional object (stuffed animal)	• Talking to you baby • Safe exploration • Simple rules like “don’t touch” • Transitional object • Bedtime routine	• Behavior • Language development • Safe play • Consistent rules • Hitting, biting • Self-quieting
15 Months	18 Months	2 Years
• Curiosity • Power struggles • Negative behavior	• Appropriate language • Power struggles • Praising positive behavior • Night walking, night fears, nightmares • Sharing	• Praising positive behavior • Appropriate language • Parallel play • Limits and structure • Toilet training
3 Years	4 Years	5 Years
• Praising positive behavior • Preschool readiness • Reading Physical activity • Fears • Genital exploration	• Praising positive behavior • School readiness • Family Chores	• Health habits • TV limits • Bedtime 7-8 p.m. • Personal care and hygiene • Hand washing
6 Years	8 Years	10 Years
• Team sports • Family Chores • Teaching child right and wrong • Self-control • Impulse control • Managing anger • Child’s friends • School performance • Discipline	• Healthy habits • Tobacco, alcohol, drug education • Education about pubertal changes • Peer relationships • Reading	• Bedtime 8-9 p.m. • Hobbies • Homework spot • Acceptance of diversity • Opportunities for success • Education about pubertal changes
11-14 Years	15-17 Years
• Sleep • TV and Computer limits • Time management • Family time • Team sports • Family rules • Sexuality issues, sex identification, abstinence, protected sex, sexually- transmitted diseases (STDs) • Substance abuse, alcohol, tobacco	• Stress • Feeling • Challenges • School work • Life plans • Safe driving • New skills like life saving, peer mentoring • Sexuality issues, STDs, abstinence • Substance abuse, alcohol, tobacco

Source: "Caring for Kids" by Patricia A Keener, MD for Riley Hospital for Children

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