Three generations of family

When we talk about a child’s growth, we often think first about height and weight. These are two important parts of your child’s physical health. Each time you visit your doctor, your child’s growth since your last visit will be measured. You can access the growth charts your doctor uses on the following website: http://www.cdc.gov/growthcharts/.

Your child’s health is the foundation of all growth and development. Of course, your child’s health includes more than physical growth. Some other important parts of your child’s health include their cognitive (learning and thinking) development, social and emotional growth, and mental health. All aspects of health and development work together to form your child’s overall well-being.

This website has tip sheets you can use to help make sure that your child care provider is supporting your child’s health and well-being at every stage of development.

You are the most important person to support and promote your child’s health and wellness, so it is important to find quality health care services and professionals. Expect professionals to answer your questions, listen to your input, and be available. You know your child best, and are his or her primary advocate.

The following table lists some of the most important parts of children's health and wellness, along with some helpful resources that can support your child's well-being.

TopicResource

Brain development (learning and thinking)

  • Supporting your child’s brain development

Brain Architecture

Supporting Early Brain Health and Development

Physical health

  • Making sure that you have a medical home
  • Ensuring that your child receives well-child physical exams
  • Using healthy habits to prevent illness
  • Managing illness
Physical Health Resources

Nutrition

  • Making informed decisions about breastfeeding and formula feeding
  • Offering nutritious meals that meet your child’s needs and give him or her energy to learn

Nutrition Resources

Feeding Your 9 Month Old (PDF)

Feeding Your Toddler (PDF)

Feeding Your Preschooler (PDF)

Social, emotional, and mental health

  • Helping your child understand and learn to share his or her feelings
  • Helping your child learn to have positive relationships
  • Encouraging your child to explore and learn
  • Learning strategies for parenting in tough times and coping with depression or other difficult feelings
  • Building resilience in yourself and your child
Healthy Active Living Resources

Mental Health Tips for Families (PDF)

Parenting through Tough Times: Coping with Depression (PDF)

The Ability to Cope: Building Resilience in Yourself and Your Child (PDF)

Self-Reflection in Parenting: Help for Getting through Stressful Times (PDF)

Resources from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network

Oral health

  • Encouraging oral and dental health so children are better able to eat, speak, and focus on learning
Oral Health Resources

A Healthy Mouth for Your Baby

Active living

  • Providing age-appropriate amounts of physical activity in your child’s daily routines to support physical health and positive behaviors
Healthy Active Living Resources

Safety and injury prevention

  • Creating and maintaining safe environments
  • Educating your child on ways to avoid injuries
  • Identifying and reporting suspected child abuse and neglect
Safety and Injury Prevention Resources