Is Your Child's Development Normal?
A free 90-second quiz for parents of children aged 6–14, grounded in guidance from the AAP, AACAP, CDC, National Sleep Foundation, and 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
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About this quiz
You pick your child's age, then answer 6 short questions about everyday situations — sleep, screens, brushing teeth, mood, friendships. Each answer is mapped against CDC developmental milestones, AAP HealthyChildren guidance, and AACAP's Facts for Families, then sorted into perfectly normal, worth a closer look, and (rarely) consider talking to a pediatrician. This is not medical advice — if you're worried, talk to your child's doctor.
What's normal at each age
Ages 6–7
Occasional bed-wetting (10–15% prevalence per AAP), fear of monsters and the dark, frustration tantrums, and needing reminders for hygiene — all common and developmentally typical. Erikson's "Industry vs. Inferiority" stage.
Ages 8–10
Resistance to chores, hours of screen time, sibling fights — usually normal. Frequent school refusal with somatic complaints may signal anxiety per AACAP. Bedwetting prevalence drops to ~5% but is still typically developmental.
Ages 11–12
Wanting privacy, mood shifts, being less communicative — classic pre-adolescent individuation per AAP. AACAP identifies body-image fixation as the leading early warning sign of eating disorders.
Ages 13–14
Later sleep schedules (a ~2-hour biological circadian phase delay), refusing family activities, mood swings — developmentally normal teen behaviors. Any talk of self-harm, hopelessness, or "what's the point" warrants professional support — call or text 988 anytime.
Frequently asked questions
Is bedwetting normal at age 10?
Yes — prevalence at age 10 is around 5% and most cases reflect delayed maturation of nighttime bladder control. The AAP and AAFP recommend a pediatric check-in to rule out medical causes when frequent.
Is moodiness normal in a 12-year-old?
Yes — hormonal puberty shifts cause real mood changes per AACAP. The right lens is SFDI — Severity × Frequency × Duration × Impairment. Bad weeks are normal; persistent withdrawal over 2 weeks warrants a conversation with the pediatrician.
What is the AAP "5 Cs of Media Use"?
A framework that replaces strict screen-time hour limits: Child, Content, Calm, Crowding-out, Communication. Useful for parents wondering "how much screen time is too much" — the answer depends on what screens replace, not just minutes.
How long does a teen need to sleep?
8–10 hours per night for ages 13–18, per National Sleep Foundation and AAP guidance. The biological circadian shift makes late bedtimes common; protect morning sleep when you can.
My teen talked about self-harm — what should I do?
This is a top-tier warning sign per the AAP "Blueprint for Youth Suicide Prevention" (2024) and AACAP. Contact your pediatrician this week, call or text 988 anytime (including right now if you're worried about immediate safety). Asking your teen directly is safe and protective.
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Last reviewed 2026-06-06 by the Family Checklist Editorial Team, cross-referenced against AAP HealthyChildren.org, AACAP Facts for Families, CDC Developmental Milestones, National Sleep Foundation. Not medical advice. In crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline).