Pediatrician's use development charts to monitor your child's development. They help doctors make sure the child is growing and developing normally. At each well-child visit, the doctor will measure your child, weigh them, and keep record of them on a graphic chart. The pediatrician will discuss any concerns they have about your child's development at this time and talk to you about the percentile curves.

The percentile curve represents the average growth of children that are the same age as your child. It will compare their height and weight to other children their age and let you know how your child is doing. The 50th percentile is the median for height and weight. Normally, 50% of children will be above the median and 50% of the children will be below the median. For example, the median weight for a 7 year old boy is 50 pounds and the height is 48 inches. If your child only weighs 38 pounds, they would be in the lower percentile for their weight. The percentile is simply a number to compare your child's weight and height to. The percentile does not necessarily indicate how well your child is growing. A child in the bottom 5th percentile may be growing just as fine as a child in the 95th percentile. No two children are alike and you should not expect your younger children to develop like the older children. If you have 2 boys, there is a strong possibility that one can be 6 feet 7 inches tall and another can be 5 feet 8 inches tall. If you are concerned about your child's height and weight, speak to your child's pediatrician.

As long and your child's growth is consistent, there is no cause to be alarmed. If your child has remained in the bottom 5th percentile their entire life, this is normal for them. They may be shorter or weigh less than 95% of other children their age, but this is their growth curve. Generally, infants and toddlers change percentiles during the first 18 months of life. After 18 months, they normally level off and their growth curve will remain close to the same percentage. There are several things that contribute to your child's growth pattern. Genetic factors, medical conditions, and nutritional status all contribute to your child's growth. Even though you and your spouse may be tall, you could have a child that is shorter and another that is taller. The genes they receive could be coming from their grandparents and they may take after their characteristics. Children with medical problems like congenital heart disease or Down syndrome will have different growth patterns and their development will be slower than other children their age. Always speak to your child's pediatrician if they have a medical condition. If your child is eating nutritious food and getting plenty of exercise, they should be just fine, no matter where they land on the growth charts.

Younger elementary-aged children start responding to their senses and movements more. Their language skills are developing rapidly and they are able to understand what numbers mean. They can think through mathematical operations and are able to think clearly and logically. Their brain will also start to develop cause and effect. They can understand more about people's emotions and why they react differently to certain situations. Younger children begin to understand that everyone thinks differently and they do not always think the same things as them. They may become defensive about their thoughts and debate them with other children their age; this is a sign of maturation. Younger elementary-aged children need structure and routines. You need to start teaching them behavioral habits at a young age so they understand how to interact with others. By the time they reach age 8, their reasoning abilities will become more developed. Children will be accountable for their actions, as they can understand cause and effect.

Older elementary-aged children will be able to perform hundreds of mathematical problems and can solve other problems using logical thinking skills. They will understand that everyone has a different idea and opinion from their own. They will start to pay attention to other's ideas and views and they will learn how to validate their views. By the age of 8, children can think backwards, meaning they understand how to reverse things. You can ask them to recite the alphabet backwards, and they will be able to do it. Older elementary-aged children still need structure and routines in their lives. They may act independent, but they still strive for their parent's approval and they want to please their parents. This is the ideal time to start giving them assignments and making them responsible for things. Consider purchasing them a pet, even if it is just fish. Teach them how to care for them and make them accountable to feed them and clean the tank. You also need to assign them household chores, like dusting or cleaning up their bedrooms. Giving your children assignments will help them understand responsibility and it can help to reduce or prevent rebellion as they grow into adolescence.

Your child's pediatrician will give you pamphlets that explain where your child should be with their cognitive and behavioral development. Elementary-aged children are not prone to temper tantrums as younger children are. They will discuss sleeping problems, social problems, and other developmental issues at the well-child visit. As a parent, you need to work with your child each day to improve their reading, language, and mathematical skills. Sit down with them and read stories together, help them with their homework and create your own mathematical problems and show them how it is used in daily life. For example, have your child bake cookies with you and explain how the mathematical skills they are learning apply to the recipe. Giving your child examples of how their schooling affects their daily life as it will help them understand the importance of school.

By the time your elementary-aged child is 8 years old, they can carry on tasks without being reminded. They will be able to follow complex directions and can carry on conversations at an adult level. Your child's reading skills will be on track and they should not have difficulty reading anymore, if your child still is sounding out words, consider placing them in a resource class. The instructors can work one-on-one with them and help them read better and catch up to the reading level of other children their age. Another way to help your child read better is to sit and read with them each night. Take your child to the library and have them pick out some books that they are interested in. You can both spend time reading the book together and it will help them to improve their reading skills. Many children with reading problems will refuse to read in front of other children their age because they are embarrassed that they are not reading at the same level as their friends. This fear can cripple many children and cause them to suffer from social problems. Speak to your child's pediatrician about their reading problems to see if there are other things you can do to help your child's development.

It is important to spend time talking to your child and answering their questions. Your child may start asking complex questions and it is important for you to answer them truthfully. Try to avoid "sugar-coating" things, as they probably already know the answer to some of the questions and they want to see if you will confirm what they already know. Older elementary-aged children may start challenging things that you say. This is normal behavior for their age because they are gaining knowledge outside the home and have become more autonomous in their thinking.

You need to share your ideas with your children often. Allow them to share their ideas and listen to what they are telling you, this is important to build a strong bond with your child. Elementary-aged children begin facing tough challenges at a young age, keeping open-communication with your children will help them understand how to deal with their daily pressures. Talk to them about the dangers of smoking, drinking, and under-age sexual activity. Talk with your child, not at them. Treat them with respect and let them tell you about the activities they are involved in. Discuss the things that are challenging to them and encourage them to try their best. Ask open-ended questions that will prompt a longer response than just "yes" or "no". Elementary-aged children should be able to communicate with you using simple and complex sentences. While they may not be able to express everything they understand, they will be able to absorb complex things and they will need explanations for things they cannot understand.

Elementary-aged children love to tell stories and re-count the events of their day. Encourage your child to share this information with you, make time for them. You can find time to carry on a conversation with them at the grocery store, in the car, or before they go to bed. It is important to promote your child's imagination by listening to their stories and sharing some of your own. As long as your child's pediatrician says they are developing normally, you are doing just fine as a parent.