6-9 Years of Age

Safety:

Protect your child properly in the car. Refer to this handout for car seat information.
Teach your child traffic and bike safety.
Make sure your child understands water safety and always supervise them near water.
Keep potentially harmful household products, tools, equipment (especially lawnmowers), and firearms out of your child’s reach.
It is best to keep guns out of the home. If you choose to keep a gun, it should be kept unloaded and in a locked place. Ask if the homes where your child visits have guns and how they are stored.
Use a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher, reapplying every 2 hours.
AAP recommends insect repellents should be less than 30% DEET and used for infants 2 months old and older. Wash off skin with soap and water when done. Wash clothes before wearing again. Do not use combination DEET and sunscreen products. Apply permethrin for ticks to clothes, not to skin.

Address what type of and how much media is used and what media behaviors are appropriate for each child.
Place consistent limits on hours per day of media use as well as types of media used.
Recommend that children not sleep with devices in their bedrooms, including televisions, computers or smart phones. Avoid exposure to devices for 1 hour before bedtime.
Engage in selecting and co-viewing media with your child.
Have ongoing communication with your child about online safety, including treating others with respect, avoiding cyberbullying, and being wary of online solicitation.
Teach them to avoid communications that can compromise personal privacy and safety.
Resource for social media management

Shows more independence from parents and family.
Starts to think about the future.
Wants to be accepted by friends.
Pays more attention to friendships and teamwork.
Shows more concern for others.
May start to show early signs of puberty such as body odor, pubic/underarm hair.

Limit access to foods and drinks with added sugar, trans fats and salt.
At home, serve meals and snacks at the kitchen table; limit eating in other rooms of the house or while watching TV.
Have family meal times and keep mealtimes pleasant.
Offer new foods often and encourage an “adventure bite.” Place them alongside familiar foods.
Help your child decide when they are hungry, full, thirsty, or bored. Do not use food as a reward or to deal with their emotions.
Be a positive role model for healthy eating.