Early Adolescence Visit - Features Early Adolescence - Guiding Your Child Through The Adolescent Years

Name:____________________

Date Of Visit:____________________

Weight:____________________

Height:____________________

Ask for an update on your health
Do a physical exam, including checking for scoliosis and signs of puberty
Check your blood pressure, and possibly your hearing and/or vision
Ask about your family’s history of heart disease and test cholesterol levels if indicated
Ask about possible exposure to tuberculosis (TB) and test you if indicated
Discuss your risk of anemia (iron-poor blood) and test for it if indicated
Make sure your immunizations are up to date, including tetanus (Td); hepatitis B; chicken pox; and measles, mumps, rubella (MMR). Your doctor may also recommend a meningococcal vaccine.
Give you and your parent(s) an opportunity to ask questions

Questions about dating and social activities
How to handle pressure from friends to do things you don’t want to do
Questions about growing up, body changes and sex
Issues about getting along with parents, brothers or sisters
Any other concerns you have

How you are doing in school
Your interests, talents and after-school activities
Your growth
Your diet (nutrition)
Questions about development, puberty or sex
Your sleeping habits
Questions about behavior, discipline, tobacco, alcohol or drug use

Participate in school and community activities.
Spend time with your family doing things you all enjoy.
Always use a seat belt, bike helmet and other protective sports gear.
Do not use tobacco, alcohol or drugs.
Do not use guns or other weapons.
Learn how to respond to pressure from friends to do things you do not want to do.
Brush your teeth at least two times each day, including just before bed. Be sure to floss and see a dentist regularly.
Manage your weight by making healthy choices for meals and snacks, and exercising regularly (at least three times per week).
Talk with someone when you feel anxious, stressed, sad or lonely, or if things just don’t seem to be going right.
Know that it is normal to have sexual feelings, but wait to have sex until you are older.
Learn how to say no to sex.
Limit television, video watching and video games to one to two hours per day.

Based on health supervision guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics and from Bright Futures, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, under the direction of the Maternal and Child Health Bureau.