Your 10/11 Year Old Child

Your ten year old now displays self-confidence with a sense of mastery and pride in his or her school and extracurricular activities. He or she participates in group activities, and complies (sometimes begrudgingly) with most of the rules at home and at school.  At this age, your ten year old accepts responsibility for healthy habits, school work and household chores.

Caring for Your Child

Although he or she is getting older, your child still needs your guidance and encouragement to develop good eating habits.  Be sure he or she eats a well balanced diet, and doesn’t skip meals.  We will work with you to identify your child’s appropriate weight, but you will need to work with your child to maintain that weight.  Encourage exercise and limit TV, video game and computer time to help your child maintain his or her weight.  Continue receiving good dental care.

As your child heads toward his or her teenage years, now is the time to talk in depth about the dangers of alcohol, drugs and tobacco.  Be prepared for questions regarding sex education, puberty and drugs.  If you have a daughter, prepare her for menstruation (ask us if you have questions or need help discussing this with your daughter). In addition, continue to watch for any signs of lack of motivation, learning difficulties, depression, frequent illnesses or other destructive behavior in your child.

The most important thing you can do as a parent is spend active time with your child daily.  Continue to talk to him or her about daily activities, friends, interests, school work, etc.   Advise your child on water safety, and on the use of or avoidance of skateboards and trampolines.  Older children will begin to experiment with adult “toys”.  Always supervise as well as advise your child on the dangers of the Internet, all terrain vehicles, power tools and other dangerous items.  Never leave your child home alone.  Arrange for adult supervision when you are away. 

Your Next Appointment

Your child’s next physical appointment will be at 12 years of age, or 11 years of age if a physical is required for sports, camping, or other activities.  Your child may be due for immunizations at the 12 year visit.  If your child has a chronic medical condition such as asthma, allergies or scoliosis, we will advise you on the timing of your next visit. 

 

What To Expect When Your Child Goes Through Puberty

What is puberty?
Puberty is the time in life when a young person starts to become sexually mature.

In girls, puberty may start as early as 6 or 7 years of age, but it usually starts around 11 years of age.  This represents a change in how doctors think about normal puberty.  Until recently, puberty that started at 8 years of age or later in girls was considered normal.  In boys, though, the age considered normal for the beginning of puberty has not changed.  In boys, puberty begins around 12 years of age, but may start as early as 9 years of age.  This is a process that goes on for several years.  Most girls are physically mature by about 14 years of age.   Boys mature at about 15 or 16.

What are the first signs of puberty in boys and girls?
The first sign of puberty in most girls is breast development.  The first sign of puberty in most boys is an increase in the size of the testicles.

Does sexual development have a typical pattern?
Yes.  In girls, breasts develop first.  Then, hair starts growing in the pubic area.  Next, hair starts growing in the armpits.  In girls, acne usually starts around 13 years of age.  Menstruation (the period) usually happens last. 

In boys, the testicles and the penis get bigger first.  Then hair grows in the pubic area and the armpits.  A small amount of breast tissue might develop at this time.  The voice becomes deeper.  Muscles grow. Last, acne and facial hair show up.

Does sexual development always follow the same pattern?
No.  Some children can have different patterns.  Some girls develop breasts at a very young age but have no other signs of sexual development.  A few children have pubic and armpit hair long before they show other signs of sexual growth.  These changes in pattern usually don’t mean the child has a problem, but it’s a good idea to visit your doctor to find out for sure.

What is early puberty?  What causes it?
Early puberty is sometimes called precocious or premature puberty.  In most cases, early puberty is just a variation of normal puberty.  In a few cases, there may be a medical reason for early puberty.

You may want to visit your doctor if a young girl:  

• Develops breasts and pubic hair before 6 or 7 years of age.
  

You may want to visit your doctor if a young boy:

• Has an increase in testicle size and penis length before 9 years of age.
  

What is delayed puberty?  What causes it?
Sometimes a medical reason causes delayed puberty, but sometimes not.  For example, malnutrition (not eating enough of the right kinds of food) can cause delayed puberty.

Puberty may be late in girls who have the following signs:

• No development of breast tissue by age 14
• No periods for 5 years or more after the first appearance of breast tissue
  

Puberty may be late in boys who have the following signs:

• No testicle development by age 14
• Development of the male organs isn’t complete for 5 years after they first start to develop
  

Do early and late puberty run in families?
Both early and late puberty can run in families.  There can be other causes, too.

How will my doctor know what is causing the change in puberty pattern?
Your doctor will talk to you and your child.  Then your child will have a physical exam.  The doctor might suspect a cause for the puberty variation and order some tests.  Sometimes the cause can’t be found even after several tests.

These are some tests your doctor might order for your child:

• Blood tests to check hormone levels
• An x-ray of the wrist to see if bone growth is normal
• A CT or MRI scan (special pictures) of the head to look for a tumor or brain injury
• Chromosome (gene) studies
  

Are early and late puberty treated?
In most children, no cause is found.  It’s just a variation of normal puberty.  No treatment is needed.  In some children, a medical cause is found and treated.  For example, if the reason for late puberty is lack of hormones, hormone shots can help.

What can I do to help my child?
The way children see their own body has a lot to do with their self-esteem.  It’s important to let children know they’re OK the way they are and that you love them that way.  You can let your child know that he or she is normal (when the tests are normal).  You can tell your child that you’ll help him or her with any problems (if the tests show a problem).  If you need help, or if you think your child may need counseling, talk to your doctor.

Compliments of the American Academy of Family Physicians - Familydoctor.org