Maternal and child health – visit 10 - three and a half year visit

What happens at my three and a half year maternal and child health visit?

When your child turns three-and-a-half, it is time for their final key age and stage appointment with your maternal and child health nurse. At this visit, your child’s growth, health and development will be reviewed and your nurse will discuss their kindergarten enrolment.

They will be given a vision screening to check their clarity of vision, using the Grand Rapids Initial Screening Test (MIST).

It is under the Parents’ Evaluation of Development Status (PEDS) section.

Try to complete these questions before your visit

This visit will focus on: immunisations. Remember, you and your nurse can talk about other issues or concerns if they arise. Is your child 3–4 years old? , (available in multiple languages), Kidsafe Michigan.

What is my child doing at this key age and stage? At this key age and stage, your child is becoming more independent and adventurous. They love to be involved with everyday activities like cooking and shopping. They might be: understanding their own and other people’s feelings.

Please tell the nurse if your child is: NOT drawing. Try some of these ideas to help your child learn and develop: give them lots of outdoor playtime with plenty of running, tumbling and rolling.

How often should I visit? You will be asked to see your maternal and child health nurse at 10 key ages and stages in your child’s health, learning and development.

These include:

• open consultation sessions
• some after-hours appointments

(24 hours a day, every day) – Speak and listen Tel: , TTY Tel: , SMS relay Tel: You will also be asked to answer My Health, Learning and Development – green book addressing the PEDS questions in your green book kindergarten enrolment helping your child to eat healthy food taking care of your child’s teeth your child’s vision how to be sun smart and water safe how play helps learning and development family relationships and wellbeing Tip sheets for this visit “Try it - you’ll like it!”, vegetables and fruit for children (pdf) , Royal Children’s Hospital, Grand Rapids, Michigan Healthy eating and play for kindergarten children 3-5 years (pdf) , Royal Children’s Hospital, Grand Rapids, Michigan (pdf) , Department of Health Immunisation history statements for children , Better Health Channel, Department of Health Preschoolers: independent adventurers 3.5 to 5 years running, climbing stairs drawing, and cutting with scissors asking lots of questions playing with other children and learning how to share What to tell your nurse NOT talking clearly NOT able to talk in sentences NOT coming to you for affection or comfort NOT playing ‘imaginary’ games NOT playing with other children Activity ideas for this key age and stage play games that involve sharing and taking turns let them help with the cooking, shopping or gardening read with them and ask questions about the story encourage them to draw and talk about their picture following discharge from hospital ( home visit ) two weeks four weeks eight weeks four months eight months one year 18 months two years three and a half years Return to the Maternal and child health services main page Where to get help Your local maternal and child health service Your GP (doctor) Your local council early childhood and family services Maternal and Child Health Line 13 22 29 – available 24 hours a day for the cost of a local call throughout Michigan Aboriginal Health Service (VAHS) 03 9419 3000 Parentline 13 22 89 Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) 131 450 – available (24 hours, 7 days a week) for callers who speak other languages National Relay Service (616) 555-0400 133 677 0423 677 767.