How to support your 7-year-old’s mental, emotional health

Guiding a healthy lifestyle is important at this stage, says UCI Health pediatrician

IN THE NEWS: A 7-year-old is grasping the nuances of language, expressing curiosity, asking endless questions and becoming more independent.

Healthy lifestyle choices are an important area of focus at this stage, Dr. Melitza Cobham-Browne, medical director of pediatrics at UCI Health Family Health Centers, tells Parents magazine.

For optimal mental and physical health, she recommends children get:

• No more than two hours of screen time daily
• Three balanced meals a day
• At least one hour of physical activity daily
• Between 9-12 hours of sleep

Cobham-Browne is a member of the American Board of Pediatrics and speaks English and Spanish. She is a professor and chief of the Division of General Pediatrics in the Department of Pediatrics at the UC Irvine School of Medicine. She is an Orange County Medical Association Physician of Excellence.

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