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 your child's 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 local or online resources that can help.
Put the family computer in a central place.
Watch your child’s computer use.
Know who they talk with online.
Install a safety filter.
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
Be a model for your child by saying you are sorry when you make a mistake.
Show your child how to use their words when they are angry.
Teach your child to help others.
Give your child chores to do and expect them to be done.
Give your child their own personal space.
Get to know your child’s friends and their families.
Understand that your child’s friends are very important.
Answer questions about puberty. Ask us for help if you don’t feel comfortable answering questions.
Teach your child the importance of delaying sexual behavior. Encourage your child to ask questions.
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.
School
Show interest in your child’s school activities.
If you have any concerns, ask your child’s teacher for help.
Praise your child for doing things well at school.
Set a routine and make a quiet place for doing homework.
Talk with your child and their teacher about bullying.
Healthy Teeth
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.
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.
Provide a properly fitting helmet and safety gear for riding scooters, biking, skating, in-line skating, skiing, snowboarding, and horseback riding.
Teach your child to swim and watch them in the water.
Use a hat, sun protection clothing, and sunscreen with SPF of 15 or higher on his exposed skin. Limit time outside when the sun is strongest (11:00 am–3:00 pm).
If it is necessary to keep a gun in your home, store it unloaded and locked with the ammunition locked separately from the gun.
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 medical conditions, illnesses, mental health and behavioral health, and other concerns between Well Visits, please schedule an appointment with your child’s primary care provider.
Immunizations
Immunizations protect your child against serious, life-threatening diseases.
The routinely recommended vaccines at these ages are:
Tdap
Required for school prior to 7th grade
HPV
First dose at 9 or 10 years old, second dose the following year
If the vaccine series is started before the 15th birthday, then only 2 doses are needed. If the vaccine series is started on or after the 15th birthday, then 3 doses are needed.
Helps to prevent cancers caused by the HPV virus, such as cervical cancer in women, throat cancers in women and men, and cancers of the penis in men
Meningitis ACWY
First shot at 11 years old and second shot at 16 years old
During flu season (approximately August through March), we recommended your child receive a flu vaccine.
To learn about COVID vaccines, please see the recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
It is safe for your child to be given all recommended vaccines according to the schedule published by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Vaccines are safe and effective, and proven to save lives.
If you have concerns about vaccines, please talk to your child’s primary healthcare provider for accurate information.
Learn more about recommended immunizations from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
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.
📚 References
This content was adapted from Bright Futures and The American Academy of Pediatrics Parenting Website.
Reviewed by JW MD, Patient Education Committee.