DISCLAIMER: This material is for educational purposes only. You, the reader, assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it. It is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, nor does it replace the advice or counsel of a doctor or health care professional. Reference to a specific commercial product, service, or external web site does not imply endorsement or recommendation of that product, service, or external web site content by CPCMG. We attempt to keep lists of resources and referrals as up to date as possible; however, this information is constantly changing. Please check with the service provider and your insurance company to verify coverage.
Visit our Health Hub at https://healthhub.cpcmg.net to learn more about your child’s health, wellness, and development. Available 24/7!
How Your Family Is Doing
Encourage your child to be independent and responsible. Hug and praise them.
Spend time with your child. Get to know their friends and their families.
Take pride in your child for good behavior and doing well in school.
Help your child deal with conflict.
If you are worried about your living or food situation, talk with us. Community agencies and programs such as SNAP can also provide information and assistance.
Don’t smoke or use e-cigarettes. Keep your home and car smoke-free. Tobacco-free spaces keep children healthy.
Don’t use alcohol or drugs. If you’re worried about a family member’s use, let us know, or reach out to resources that can help.
Staying Healthy
When possible, eat meals together as a family. This helps build good eating habits and can strengthen family connections.
Think “5210” Every Day!
5 or more servings of fruits & vegetables
2 hours or less recreational screen time
1 hour or more of physical activity
0 sugary drinks, more water & low fat milk
Encourage breakfast—it helps with focus, memory, problem-solving, and learning.
Water should be their main drink. Sweet beverages are not needed and not recommended.
Important Vitamins and Nutrients:
Calcium: Builds strong bones. Commonly found in dairy products, sardines, broccoli, kale, and enriched orange juice.
Vitamin D: Helps keep bones strong and supports many body functions. Many teens don’t get enough. Found in milk, yogurt, cheese, salmon, tuna, mushrooms, egg yolk, and fortified cereals.
Iron: Keeps blood healthy, helping with growth and development. Found in eggs, chicken, leafy greens, red meat, beans, and fortified grains like breads and cereals.
Food Assistance
2-1-1 is an organization that helps families connect with food assistance programs such as CalFresh, local and regional food banks, emergency food services, Women Infant Children (WIC) program and more. Contact them at 211sandiego.org/resources/food-assistance/OR dial 2-1-1 from any phone.
Your Child’s Feelings/Mental Health
All children feel stress sometimes.
If your child seems sad, anxious, irritated, hopeless, or angry for more than two weeks, talk to their healthcare provider.
If you're worried about suicide or self-harm, go to the emergency room (ER) or urgent care right away.
Helpful access and crisis lines:
San Diego County 888-724-7240
Riverside County 951-686-HELP (4357)
Crisis Text Line: 741741 – text any word (like HELP or TALK) to start a discussion.
You can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (text 988) at any time to speak with someone immediately.
For more resources and helpful information, visit our behavioral and mental health webpage here.
Your Growing Child
Give your child chores to do and expect them to be done.
Be a good role model.
Don’t hit or allow others to hit.
Help your child do things for themself.
Teach your child to help others.
Discuss rules and consequences with your child.
Be aware of puberty and changes in your child’s body.
Use simple responses to answer your child’s questions.
Talk with your child about what worries them.
School
Help your child get ready for school. Use the following strategies:
Create bedtime routines so they get 10 to 11 hours of sleep.
Offer them a healthy breakfast every morning.
Attend back-to-school night, parent-teacher events, and as many other school events as possible.
Talk with your child and child’s teacher about bullies.
Talk with your child’s teacher if you think your child might need extra help or tutoring.
Know that your child’s teacher can help with evaluations for special help, if your child is not doing well in school.
Reading, Electronics, and Social Media
Read to your child on a daily basis and make reading a part of the night time routine.
Regular trips to the library can be a source of knowledge and joy for both you and your child.
Limit daily screen time to less than 2 hours total.
Turn off screens at least 1 hour before bedtime to help with better sleep.
Discuss safe and respectful behavior online.
Wait Until 8th: A growing movement by parents and child psychologists to delay personal smartphone use for a child until 8th grade. Learn more here: Wait Until 8th
A Family Media Plan can help parents be aware of their teen’s online activity. Learn more here: Family Media Plan
Safety
The back seat is the safest place to ride in a car until your child is 13 years old.
Your child should use a belt-positioning booster seat until the vehicle’s lap and shoulder belts fit.
Teach your child to swim and watch her in the water.
Use a hat, sun protection clothing, and sunscreen with SPF of 15 or higher on her exposed skin. Limit time outside when the sun is strongest (11:00 am–3:00 pm).
Provide a properly fitting helmet and safety gear for riding scooters, biking, skating, in-line skating, skiing, snowboarding, and horseback riding.
If it is necessary to keep a gun in your home, store it unloaded and locked with the ammunition locked separately from the gun.
Teach your child plans for emergencies such as a fire. Teach your child how and when to dial 911.
Teach your child how to be safe with other adults.
No adult should ask a child to keep secrets from parents.
No adult should ask to see a child’s private parts.
No adult should ask a child for help with the adult’s own private parts.
Dental Care
Schedule dental visits every 6 months to keep teeth healthy.
Encourage brushing twice a day and flossing once a day.
Give a fluoride supplement if recommended by the dentist.
Ask your child’s healthcare provider for dentist recommendations.
To find Medi-Cal dental clinics near you:
Call: 1-800-322-6384
Visit: Denti-Cal Website here.
Immunizations
Routine vaccines at these ages include:
Influenza and COVID-19
New versions of the vaccine every year.
Usually available in the fall.
Common side effects from vaccines
Fever - can be treated with acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
Soreness - can be treated with ibuprofen or cool compress.
Swelling at injection site - can be treated with cool compress.
For more details, visit the immunizations section on our Health Hub.
Your Child’s Next Well Visit
Your child should have an annual Well Visit with their primary care provider. Bring your child's immunization card to all visits.
We understand that it is not possible to address all concerns at the annual Well Visit.
We are here for you between Well Visits!
For health conditions, illnesses, mental health and behavioral health, and other concerns between Well Visits, please schedule an appointment with your child’s primary care provider.
📚 References
This content was adapted from Bright Futures.
Reviewed by JW MD, Patient Education Committee.