Texas Health and Human Services / Texas Health Steps
Interactive Anticipatory Guidance Provider Guide
Early Adolescence icon

11-Year Checkup

  • Family Well-Being
    • Discuss with teacher any need for additional help if there are school concerns or bullying
    • Monitor computer use and ensure computer safety
  • Keeping Adolescent Safe
    • Choose safe, quality after-school care
    • Promote riding in the back seat until 12 or 13 years old and always using a seat belt
    • Supervise when child is in or near water, even if they know how to swim
    • Get to know child’s friends and their families
    • Develop family plan for exiting house in a fire and establish meeting place after exit
    • Discuss drug, tobacco and alcohol use and peer pressure
    • Lock up guns
    • Teach personal body privacy
    • Teach self-safety if child feels unsafe at friend’s home or car or answers the door or telephone when adult is not home
    • Require always wearing protective gear during sports
    • Require wearing a helmet when child uses bicycle, skates or other mobility equipment
  • Healthy Eating
    • Provide nutritious meals and snacks each day
    • Help child maintain healthy weight
    • Limit sweets, sodas and high-fat foods
    • Emphasize the importance of breakfast
    • Encourage healthy eating behaviors
    • Ensure adequate calcium and vitamin D
  • Regular Care and Routines
    • Reinforce two times a day teeth-brushing routine plus daily flossing
    • Encourage personal hygiene routine
    • Encourage physical activity for one hour a day
  • Healthy Development
    • Promote self-responsibility
    • Observe for signs of depression, anxiety or other behavioral health issues
    • Discuss puberty, physical changes and sexuality
    • Establish consistent limits, rules and consequences
    • Increase difficulty of daily chores to develop sense of accomplishment and self-confidence
    • Limit TV and screen time to two hours a day
    • Show affection and praise for good behaviors
    • Encourage constructive conflict resolution and demonstrate anger management at home
    • Discuss school activities and schoolwork
    • Provide space and time for homework and personal time