The U9 screening - is it going well?
Our series on the U examinations continues with the U9 - which is almost like a repeat of the U8.
At the U9, the children are five years old and, as always, weighing and measuring are part of the examination. We also measure the blood pressure, check the urine and check the immunisation record. Of course, as always, there is also time to discuss any questions that parents may have had since the last check-up.
All in all, however, the U9 is not very different from the U8; the same aspects are examined, namely motor skills, fine motor skills and speech. And the developmental differences that we would like to see in comparison to the U8 are relatively small in some areas.
Two examples: A child should already be able to hop on one leg at U9, at least three to five hops per leg should work. There should also have been a small "hiccup" in speech. For example, if the child is still saying "Dinderdarden" and "Sule", you could consider speech therapy.
Another common topic for parents at U9 is the question of school enrolment: When will the child be ready? There is a separate tip with a video about this.
Further interesting tips
Overcoming frustration
Norbert F. Schneider, sociologist and family researcher in an interview with "Der Spiegel"
Foreskin inflammation
Once again an "unfair" topic, because it only affects boys. It's about balanitis or foreskin inflammation, a common condition in young boys and one that often makes parents extremely anxious. It is also often wrongly regarded as an emergency, although it is not usually such a dramatic story.
Psychological problem?
Today we have the combined knowledge of two experts: The Doc talked to Frank Köhnlein, author and child and adolescent psychiatrist from Basel, about the behaviour of children and adolescents in particular - and about when parents need to start worrying. The most important results.