A Five-Year-Old Getting Ready for School

Ages and Stages Photo Gallery

Your child's nutrition is important to his overall health, especially to help avoid childhood obesity. The best nutrition advice to keep your child healthy includes encouraging him to:

• Eat a variety of foods
• Balance the food he eats with exercise and physical activity
• Choose a diet with plenty of grain products, fruits and vegetables
• Choose a diet high in fiber and low in fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol
• Choose a diet moderate in sugars and salt
• Choose a diet that provides enough calcium and iron to meet their growing body's requirements

You can also help promote good nutrition by setting a good example. Healthy eating habits and regular exercise should be a regular part of your family's life.

What You Need To Know About Your Five-Year-Old

• This is a time of growing independence and children at this age want to be considered more responsible. To help foster this sense of responsibility, now is a good time to begin giving your child an allowance. The amount is not very important, but is usually 50 cents to $1.00 per year in age and should be used for special things that your child wants.
• This is a good age to start some chores.
• Teach stranger awareness.
• Use a belt-positioning booster seat in the back seat until your child is about 80 lbs and 4'9" and correctly fits in the car's own lap/shoulder belts and never place your child in the front seat of a car with a passenger side airbag.
• Teach your child how to dial 911 (if available in your area).
• At the 5-year-old checkup, you can expect a complete physical exam, a review of feeding and sleep schedules, measurement of your child's height, weight and blood pressure. Your child will also receive his vaccines, including the DTaP, MMR, IPV, and Varivax booster (if he hasn't had chickenpox), if he hasn't had them already. A screening vision test and hearing test will also likely be done.

• Common School Age Problems

  • Constipation
  • Food Allergies
  • Classic Pediatric Symptoms
  • ADHD
  • Allergies
  • Asthma
  • Growing Pains
  • Bedwetting

Five-Year-Old School Age Topics

• Your Five-Year-Old
• Preschoolers
• Childproofing
• Milk
• Nutrition Facts Quiz
• Reading Food Labels
• Safety
• Soda and Drink Guidelines
• Dog Bites
• Fears
• Food Pyramid
• Spoiled Brat Screening Quiz
• Pool Safety Tips
• Youth Sports
• Swim Lessons for Kids
• Brown Bag School Lunches
• Kids' Allowance Calculator
• Skateboard and Scooter Injuries
• Missing Kids
• Buying a Trampoline
• Family Crafts
• Books for Kids Age 3-6