Eleven- to Twelve-Year-Olds

Ages and Stages Photo Gallery

The preteen years can be among the most challenging for parents and most confusing for kids. The middle to late school age years are a time of great change in your child's life. In addition to starting puberty, her mind will also grow to understand logical and abstract thinking and she will develop the moral standards by which she will live her.

You can also expect your preteen child to begin to move away from her family as she develops her own identity and also becomes more influenced by her friends. This makes it important to talk to your child often to make sure that you are an even bigger influence in her life.

What You Need To Know About Your Preteen

• Encourage self esteem and a positive self image in your child.
• Make sure your child is buckled up in the back seat with a lap and shoulder harness at all times and avoid placing your child in the front seat of a car with a passenger side airbag. Remember that kids shouldn't usually sit in the front seat until they are over 12 years old.
• Watch for the warning signs of drug use, including a sudden change in her behavior or personality, decreased performance in school, or changes in which friends she associates with.
• Supervise your child's use of computers, computer games, movies, and know what they have access to at their friend's homes.
• At the 11- to 12-year old checkup, you can expect a complete physical exam, a review of nutrition and sleep schedules, measurement of your child's height, weight and blood pressure. Your child will also receive her immunizations, including Tdap, Menactra, and Gardasil (girls only), and any other shots she is missing, such as the Varivax booster if your child hasn't had chickenpox.

• Common School Age Problems

  • Acne
  • ADHD
  • School Performance Problems
  • Allergies
  • Asthma
  • Frequent Nosebleeds
  • Poison Ivy
  • Warts

Preteen Health Topics

• Your Eleven- to Twelve-Year-Old
• School Age Kids
• Milk
• Reading Food Labels
• Safety
• Fast Food
• Soda and Drink Guidelines
• Food Pyramid
• Vitamins
• Youth Sports
• Calories from Drinks
• Family Home Fire Escape Plans
• Skateboard and Scooter Injuries
• Missing Kids
• When Can I Leave My Kids Home Alone?
• Short Children
• When Should Puberty Start?
• High Calorie Foods
• Caffeine
• Starting To Use Deodorant and Controlling BO
• Heel Pain and Sever's Disease
• Can Kids Get Depressed?
• Afterschool Safety
• Kids and Stress
• New Vaccines for Teens
• Choosing a Doctor for Older Children
• Parenting of K-6 Children