9 - 10 Years of Age

Physical Development

  • Children of this age are at risk of becoming overweight or obese.
  • Girls may begin to show pubertal signs (breast development and general growth spurt) as early as 8 years of age.
  • Boys may begin to show pubertal signs as early as 9 years of age (testicular enlargement).
  • Individual differences affect timing of the start of puberty for each child.
  • Additional signs that puberty may be nearing: body odor, oily skin, pimples, hair growth on face, underarms and pubic area, etc. (Detailed gender specific handout available).

Social and Emotional Development

  • Becomes more critical of self; takes comfort in knowing that others experience similar feelings.
  • Develops some different interests than parents.
  • Wants to be like friends; likes hanging around with friends.
  • Develops personal standard of right or wrong; concerned about fairness.
  • Experiences a sense of self-confidence, hopefulness and well-being.
  • Admires parents and enjoys family outings. Feels family “is the best”.
  • Has many interests and same sex friends
  • Has a caring, supportive relationship with family, other adults and friends
  • Takes some responsibility for chores
  • Likes to have personal space

Mental Development

  • Understands and complies with most rules at home
  • Wants to be involved in some decision making
  • May show moodiness or a desire to take risks

School Issues

  • Talk with your child daily about his/her school day.
  • Many learning problems become evident in these school years.
  • Visit the school to volunteer and/or discuss progress with teachers.
  • Know your child’s friends and classmates.
  • Talk about bullying. Set clear expectations for your child’s behavior and help develop a “tell someone” plan should this happen at school or elsewhere.
  • Discuss the acceptable way to handle anger/frustration and how to manage/resolve conflict.
  • Immediately discuss any school concern with a teacher or counselor. Do not wait until things get out of control.

 

WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH YOUR CHILD

  • Make your home a safe place from school and neighborhood stresses.
  • Teach money management.
  • Some family responsibilities should not be “paid”. Other chores might be.
  • A weekly allowance can be used to teach your child how to develop healthy saving and spending habits.
  • Show an interest in activities that are important to your child.
  • Set reasonable expectations.
  • Explore outdoors: Visit your local Outdoor Discovery Center.
  • Promote responsibility: making the bed, picking up clothes, setting the table, etc.
  • Create family activity opportunities.
  • Establish rules, reinforce limits and provide appropriate consequences.
  • Respect privacy.
  • Try to eat at least one meal (or more) together as a family each day.
  • Model healthy behaviors: “Actions speak louder than words”.
  • Hugs and “smiles of appreciation” build a healthy spirit! Use praise frequently.

 

KEEP YOUR CHILD SAFE

General Safety

  • Require ALL members of your family to use seatbelts, helmets and other protective gear.
  • Everyone in your family should always wear CPSC-approved helmets for bike rides.
  • Talk about substance abuse and avoiding use of drugs, alcohol, tobacco, steroids, diet pills, etc.
  • Peer pressure may result in dangerous risk-taking behaviors (drinking, dares, smoking, inhaling, gangs). Teach your child ways to deal with this pressure.
  • Discuss different emergency situations (fire, choking, CPR etc.) and correct use of 911.
  • Know your child’s friends and their families. Have your child invite friends over.
  • Do not allow physical or verbal violence. Do not allow anyone to hit, slap or spank your child.
  • Teach your child to swim and to respect the water.
  • Always supervise computer/internet use. Install parental control/monitoring programs.
  • Limit computer, video game, TV use to two hours or less each day.

Burns

  • Your water heater should be set no higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors should be installed on every level of the home and near sleeping areas.

Guns

  • The safest thing is to never have a gun in the house.
  • If you have a gun, store it unloaded and locked away. Ammunition must be locked separately away from the gun.

 

KEEP YOUR CHILD HEALTHY

  • Schedule a well check appointment with the pediatrician every 1-2 years.

Fever

  • Fever at this age is a normal response to illness. You may give acetaminophen to relieve any discomfort.
  • Please call our office for an appointment if your child’s fever lasts more than 72 hours or there are symptoms that concern you.

Vaccines

  • Keep your child vaccinated on the schedule recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics and your doctor. Splitting doses can be risky and is NEVER recommended by your doctor! Check with your insurance company before each well visit. Ask about deductibles, maximum benefits and if they pay for ANY PART of the cost of vaccines.
  • It is normal to have a fever for a couple of days after vaccination.
  • The next set of vaccines will be due at 11 years of age (tetanus, meningitis, HPV)

Smoking

  • Do not smoke.
  • Consider stopping if you do smoke.
  • Do not smoke in your house or in your car.
  • Do not allow others to smoke around your child.

Hands

  • Encourage your child to wash hands frequently.

Nutrition

  • Offer your child skim, ½% or 2% milk.
  • Serve your child 3 regular meals each day.
  • Limit pop, sugared drinks and juices.
  • Focus on “healthy eating” not dieting.
  • Allow your child to help with meal planning/preparation.
  • Watch for preoccupation with body image and be alert for eating disorders.
  • Keep mealtime pleasant and encourage good manners.

Dental Health

  • Encourage your child to brush his or her teeth with a soft toothbrush after each meal. Floss daily.
  • Have regular dental visits.

Sleep

  • Children this age need about 9-11 hours of sleep each night.

 Skin Protection

  • Encourage your child to limit time in direct sunlight. Have him/her apply sunscreen (SPF 30) and reapply frequently as needed.
  • If needed, insect repellents with a DEET concentration of 30% or less may be used.

Adapted from Bright Futures Guidelines for Health Supervision of Infants, Children, and Adolescents—Third Edition: Joseph F. Hagan, Jr. MD, FAAP; Judith S. Shaw, RN, MPH, EdD; and Paula Duncan, MD, FAAP