The US precaution: the colourful examination
In our series on the U examinations, this time we look at the U8. The focus here: Movement, language, logic.
At the U8, the children are around four years old. As with all screenings, they are measured and weighed, there is a hearing and eye test, the immunisation record is looked at and the parents are talked to a little about how social life is going at nursery school.
And then the U8 is a nice examination because you can do a lot of active things with the children: The children have to balance, stand on one leg, they have to draw simple geometric figures and also a house and a person. (Although Doc, remembering his own drawing and colouring skills, is rather generous in his assessment ...)
Then there is also a lot of linguistic development. The children look at a hidden object book together and are asked to tell a bit about what's going on. What's important is that they don't have to be able to speak everything perfectly at the age of four. They should form longer sentences, use grammar correctly as a rule and small mistakes are okay. And even if they still say "Dinderdarten" or "Sule", for example, in most cases this is no reason to get nervous at the age of four. Then you can wait and watch and give the parents a few tips.
Then the children have to complete sentences, memorise numbers and repeat nonsense words - all in all, it's a very colourful affair.
Of course, the children are also examined from head to toe and, as always, there should be time at the end to answer questions from the parents. At the U8 check-up, the topics of sleeping and cleanliness education often take centre stage.
Further interesting tips
Lies
Tears don't lie - at least that's what Michael Holm claims in his famous hit song. Children, on the other hand, do lie. Sometimes even like printed matter. This often causes parents a lot of stress, which is why we are taking a closer look at this topic. And also because it's honestly a topic where we parents always have to look at how big our own part in it is.
Affective convulsions
Some parents have asked for the topic of "child affect convulsions". No problem. Here is the most important thing you need to know.
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.