A Six-Year-Old School Age Child

Obesity in kids has reached epidemic levels. Experts estimate that 15 percent of kids are overweight and another 15 percent are at risk of becoming overweight. And two thirds of these overweight kids will become overweight adults.

Who or what is to blame for the rise in childhood obesity?

It depends on who you ask, but likely causes include kids not getting enough physical activity, spending too much time watching TV and playing video games, getting too many calories from juice, fruit drinks, and soda, and eating a lot of fast food, unhealthy meals, and oversized portions.

Of course it isn't easy, especially if the parents themselves are overweight, but teaching our children to make healthier choices, especially as they go off to school and become more independent, is essential if we want them to be healthy and avoid the health consequences of being overweight.

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

• Encourage your child to be curious, explore and take on new challenges.
• This is a good age to start some chores.
• Teach stranger awareness.
• According the latest car seat guidelines, children should sit in a forward-facing car seat with harness straps as long as possible and until they reach the weight and height limits of their car seat and can then move to a belt-positioning booster seat.
• At the 6 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 Varivax booster (if he hasn't had chickenpox), if he hasn't had it already, and any other shots she is missing. 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
  • Symptoms of Growing Pains
  • Bedwetting
  • Night Terrors
  • Encopresis
  • Frequent Nosebleeds

Six-Year-Old School Age Topics

• Your Six-Year-Old
• School Age Kids
• Milk
• Nutrition Facts Quiz
• Reading Food Labels
• Safety
• Poison Control
• Soda and Drink Guidelines
• Dog Bites
• Food Pyramid
• Vitamins
• Pool Safety Tips
• Youth Sports
• Brown Bag School Lunches
• Kids' Allowance Calculator
• Skateboard and Scooter Injuries
• Missing Kids
• When Can I Leave My Kids Home Alone?
• Are Head Lice Contagious?
• Bathing and Showering Together
• State Car Seat Laws and What's Safe
• Buying a Trampoline
• Family Crafts
• Books for Kids Age 3-6