School-Age Kids

Frequently Asked Questions

• What are the main health concerns of school-age children?

  Colds,flu, stomach bugs, and other viruses—includingCOVID-19—can run rampant in schools.Cut down on sick daysby teaching kids to wash their hands before and after eating or using the bathroom.Maintaining a healthy weight can also be a challenge: nearly 1 in 5 U.S. schoolchildren haveobesity.Discuss nutritional and fitness strategies with your child's pediatrician if that's a concern for your child. Behavioral issues, which are more common in children ages 6 and 11 than any other age group, merit a visit to the pediatrician (or a child psychologist), too.

  Learn More: 11 Ways to Keep Kids Healthy During the School Year
• What are the physical changes of school-age children?

  Kids go through astonishing physical changes in elementary and middle school. They'll grow about 2.5 inches every year until they hit a growth spurt in early adolescence. You'll start to seeearly signs of puberty, including pubic hair and the growth of sex organs, starting around age 8 or 9 for girls and age 10 or 11 for boys.They also get a whole new set of teeth! Between ages 6 or 7 and 12 or 13, children lose 20 teeth and grow back 28 teeth (32 counting wisdom teeth that may develop in early adulthood).

  Learn More: What is a Normal Growth Rate for Young Children?
• What are the nutritional needs of school-age children?

  Kids need about 1,600 to 2,200 calories per day during their elementary years, depending on how active they are.According toMyPlate guidelines(which have replaced the Food Pyramid) fruits and veggies should make up half of their meals, and a balance of whole grains (brown rice, whole-wheat pasta) and lean proteins (chicken, fish) should make up the other half.Two to three servings oflow-fat milk, yogurt, or cheese help children get essential calcium, which is key for bone growth, and Vitamin D, which helps the body absorb calcium.

  Learn More: Healthy Eating Plan for Kids
• How often should school-age children eat?

  It's normal—and healthy—for kids this age to eat four or five times a day. Since they are growing and active, they will be hungry between meals. In fact, snacks may account for one-quarter of their calories a day.Just make sure they arehealthy, filling snacks. Good choices have a mix of carbohydrates and protein—think a whole-grain bagel with low-fat cream cheese, a banana with peanut butter, or a hard-boiled egg with carrot sticks.

  Learn More: How to Teach Healthy Eating Habits
• How do you discipline a child at school age?

  One of the most effective strategies for this age group is boundary-based discipline, which includessetting clearly defined limits, communicating expectations frequently, and following through onconsequences.Reinforcing good behavior with praiseis also an effective way to improve behavior.

  Learn More: Boundary-Based Discipline Techniques
• At what age does a child understand consequences?

  Children have thecognitive abilityto understand the connection between actions and consequences between ages 3 to 5.But it's important to define exactly what yourexpectations和将会带来怎样的后果不是foll吗owing them. Early and frequent communication with kids and consistent follow-through when they slip up are keys to making consequence-based discipline work.

  Learn More: 7 Ways to Give Your Kids Consequences That Really Work
• What is the appropriate punishment for a 4-year-old?

  Four-year-oldsare starting toexercise their independence, which may inspire them to test limits.Kids at this age group can grasp expectations, so letting them know potential consequences for bad behavior—not getting their iPad for a day if they used it when not allowed, for instance—and then following through can be effective.For the same reason,time-outs in a quiet placewhere children can reflect on what they did wrong also work well.

  Learn More: Preschooler Discipline: Strategies and Challenges