Kids ages 11 to 14 years need to see the doctor or nurse for a “well-child visit” once a year.
A well-child visit (also called a checkup) is when you take your child to the doctor to make sure they’re healthy and developing normally. This is different from visits for sickness or injury.
At a well-child visit, the doctor or nurse can help catch any problems early, when they may be easier to treat. You’ll also have a chance to ask any questions you may have about your child’s behavior or development.
Learn what to expect so you can make the most of each visit.
Your child’s doctor or nurse can help you identify “developmental milestones,” or signs that show your child is developing normally. This is an important part of the well-child visit.
Some developmental milestones are related to your child’s behavior and learning, and others are about physical changes in your child’s body.
See a complete list of developmental milestones for kids who are:
Developmental milestones for kids ages 11 to 14 years include:
This is also a time when some kids may start showing signs of depression or eating disorders. Bullying and social media use may also become issues at this age. It’s important to:
Many kids ages 11 to 14 years are going through puberty. Puberty is when a child’s body develops into an adult’s body.
Puberty can be a difficult time for gender-diverse children — kids who feel that they’re a different gender than the sex that’s listed on their birth certificate. Encourage your child to talk with you or their doctor if they have questions about their gender. Find tips for parenting a gender-diverse child.
Puberty usually starts:
You can help by giving your child information about what changes to expect during puberty. You can also encourage your child to talk about puberty with the doctor or another trusted adult, like a teacher or school nurse.
Take these steps to help you and your child get the most out of well-child visits.
Take any medical records you have to the appointment, including a record of vaccines (shots) your child has received. If your child gets special services at school because of a health condition or disability, bring that paperwork, too.
Make a list of any important changes in your child’s life since the last visit, like a:
Use this tool to keep track of your child’s family health history. This information will help your doctor or nurse know if your child is at risk for certain health problems.
Once your child starts puberty, the doctor will usually ask you to leave the room for a few minutes so your child can ask questions about their health. This lets your child develop a relationship with the doctor or nurse, and it's an important step in helping your child learn about their health care.
Your child can also:
For more ideas, check out these tips to help your child take charge of their health care. You can also share this list of questions for the doctor with your child.
Under the Affordable Care Act, insurance plans must cover well-child visits. Depending on your insurance plan, you may be able to get well-child visits at no cost to you. Check with your insurance company to find out more.
Your child may also qualify for free or low-cost health insurance through Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Learn about coverage options for your family.
If you don’t have insurance, you may still be able to get free or low-cost well-child visits. Find a health center near you and ask about well-child visits.
To learn more, check out these resources:
Before the well-child visit, write down a few questions you have — and ask your child if they have any questions to add. This visit is a great time to ask the doctor or nurse any questions about:
You may also want to ask for guidance on talking to your child about sensitive subjects. You can ask:
Take notes so you can remember the answers later.
Find more tips to talk to your child about a range of tricky topics.
During each well-child visit, the doctor or nurse will ask you questions, do a physical exam, and update your child’s medical history. You'll also be able to ask your questions and discuss any problems.
The doctor or nurse may ask about:
The answers to questions like these will help the doctor or nurse make sure your child is healthy, safe, and developing normally. Be honest, even if you’re worried you’re doing something wrong — the doctor or nurse is there to help you.
To check your child’s body, the doctor or nurse will:
Learn more about your child’s health care:
The doctor or nurse may ask your child if they:
The doctor or nurse will offer additional help if your child has any signs of needing more support.
And if your child may be having sex, the doctor or nurse will talk to your child about preventing STIs (sexually transmitted infections, also called sexually transmitted diseases) and pregnancy. Learn how to talk with your child about preventing STIs.
This may include telling you and your child about:
If needed, the doctor or nurse may also refer your child to a specialist.