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To view checklists, click on a category or topic at right. checklists.com provides easy-to-use checklists to help you take care of things so you can relax, enjoy life, live better and longer, be safe and successful, and, help save the earth. Most checklists contain great links to other useful sites. User comments: "I just love this site!" "so comprehensive that it could be used by anyone in many circumstances" "love your checklists" "very useful and interesting" "I really enjoyed your site" ________________________ |
- Items are listed in approximate chronological order
- Start using the checklist at your current age or level of development, then review preceding items and ensure you've completed all desired items - Your parents/guardians should help you with this checklist until you are able to read - Parents/guardians: Also see PARENTS Right after birth: FATHER/COACH: ___ Ask if you can cut the umbilical cord ___ Take pictures Soon after birth: FATHER/COACH: ___ Call family and friends to advise of health of mother and baby, sex, name, weight, APGAR, etc. ___ Buy things to pass out (tobacco, chocolate or bubble gum cigars, candy bars, peppermint sticks) in appropriate color PARENTS: ___ Have people wash their hands before touching or holding the baby (for approx. first month) ___ Be aware that the lips and inside of mouth are one of the best indications of a baby's health ___ Discuss following with your pediatrician: - Baby's health ___ When baby should be seen at pediatrician's office (weight checks, well visits, etc.) ___ Try to put your other children first (let baby wait a few minutes if possible) ___ Fill out and send birth announcements ___ Avoid public places (malls, church, nurseries, etc) for 6-8 weeks ___ Don't use sunscreen with pava until at least 6 months ___ If go to the beach, go early in the day (before the sun gets too hot) ___ Don't use non-hypoallergenic products until at least 2 months ___ Baby carriers (front) - avoid head bouncing fore and aft (sideways is okay) ___ Establish a relationship with your child which ensures he/she knows that you care about him/her, their feelings and their well-being ___ Play with your child ___ Show your child the things you think are important ___ Look your child in the eyes a lot ___ Read to your child, preferably with him/her on your lap, including reading some of the same books over and over, and, reading a variety of things (e.g., menus) - reading a variety of things helps your child understand how things work ___ Expose your child to lots of different types of music ___ Create music with your child ___ Consider choosing a second language to introduce to your child ___ Get a social security number for your child ___ Adjust your income tax withholding form (W-2) ___ On your tax return, take dependent care tax credit, especially if you have lower income ___ Use a flexible spending account to have pre-tax dollars directed from your paycheck to reimburse yourself for child care expenses Right after getting home: ___ Husband and wife get in bed with baby for awhile, then get some rest ___ Put bathrobe by front door...if anyone comes to the door, put the robe on, answer the door, tell them: "This is the closest I've been to death...I don't know when I'll ever get some sleep." ___ Even if you feel like having visitors soon...don't Soon after getting home: ___ Call pediatrician for appointments for: ___ Weight check(s) ___ Well visits: 2-3 weeks after birth, 2 mths, 4 mths, 6 mths, 9 mths, etc. ___ Be aware that after having a baby, you'll probably lose some friends (especially those without kids) but you'll gain other friends (especially those with kids) ___ Notify newspapers, newsletters, etc. ___ Adjust life insurance, will, etc. ___ Establish trust fund (or savings account) for infant - to demonstrate the power of saving money ___ Add your new baby as an exemption on your tax return ___ Notify people (e.g., alumni associations) - so they can put it in their publications ___ Notify employer, etc. of new dependent/family member One week after birth: ___ To pediatrician for weight check ___ Be aware that babies usually lose weight during first week PARENTS: Regularly: ___ Ensure your baby gets plenty of stimulation from, and interaction with, other people e.g., touching, sounds (e.g., talking, music), visual, smells (until he/she is several years old) - to stimulate the growth of nerve cells in your baby's brain - stimulation at an early age is much more effective in encouraging learning than at a later age ___ Provide consistent and predictable nuturing, especially during first few years ___ Talk to your baby ___ Massage your baby's body ___ Provide a stable situation for your child, e.g., stable relationships with loving people, especially you - so your baby can develop trust ___ Realize that your baby is especially receptive to learning language during his/her first year ___ Ensure your baby can't reach small objects which might cause choking (until he/she is approx. 3 years old) ___ Provide plenty of guidance ___ Ask local health department if water contains fluoride. If not, check with your doctor...you should probably give your child a fluoride supplement through age 13 If you suspect your baby has a high temperature: ___ Take temperature rectally When you start rolling over: PARENTS: ___ Don't leave baby on a bed, sofa, etc. unattended When you start crawling: PARENTS: ___ Childproof your house: ___ Put a gate at the top and bottom of all stairs ___ Keep balloons (inflated and uninflated) out of reach ___ See RESIDENCE - CHILDPROOFING Age 6 months: ___ Get introduced to swimming - so your child won't have a fear of water which will prevent him/her from trying to swim if he/she falls into water ___ Learn to roll onto your back in water and float Age 9 months: PARENTS: ___ Be aware that a child can lose consciousness within approx. 2 minutes in water and drown within approx. 6 minutes Age 1: Regularly: ___ Play with cups, etc. under running faucet PARENTS: ___ Be aware that children need to be watched much more closely once they learn to walk ___ Make a game out of learning to read ___ Consider controlling what your child watches on TV by: ___ Deleting certain channels on your TV or VCR (see your owner's manual) ___ Asking your cable TV company to block certain channels Once your child has learned to walk: ___ Double check your house for hazards to children (see RESIDENCE - CHILDPROOFING) Age 2: ___ Start reducing fat in diet to same as for adults (no more than 30% of calories from fat) ___ Avoid eating too much: - Butter/margarine - Fried food - Meat ___ Learn: ___ If you get lost (e.g., separated from your parents in a crowd or forest), stay where you are (e.g., hug a tree) and let them find you ___ Don't look directly at the sun except possibly momentarily at sunrise or sunset ___ If someone asks you to go somewhere (e.g., to look for a pet), don't go unless it's okay with your parents ___ If someone (especially if it's a stranger) tries to take you somewhere without your parents' permission, scream (e.g., "you're not my Daddy") ___ Dictate a story to one of your parents and then have them read it back to you PARENTS: Regularly (at least daily): ___ Tell your child: ___ You love him/her ___ You're proud of him/her ___ Ask your child: ___ How he/she is doing ___ If they have anything they want to talk about ___ If they have any questions they'd like to ask you ___ What they did that day APPROACHING BEDTIME If you notice that your child is getting cranky or irrational, or, starts crying: ___ Start getting them ready for bed BEDTIME If you have trouble getting your child to go to sleep: ___ Don't give your child too many choices, e.g.: - Which book(s) to read - Bedclothes to wear ___ Don't negotiate with your child, e.g., don't promise to read one more story if your child promises to go right to sleep ___ Establish a routine ___ Consider having your child pick out bed clothes earlier in evening ___ Stimulate your child's imagination while you lull him/her to sleep, e.g.: read or tell a story Age 3: ___ Start attending preschool - to develop learning skills ___ Consider taking music lessons ___ Consider joining a league (e.g., soccer, T-ball) ___ Learn: ___ That you should always try to do the right thing ___ If you make people play by your rules, they probably won't want to play with you ___ Doctors can't fix everything ___ Importance of crossing street properly ___ To not ask other kids if you can play at their house until your parents ask their parents ___ To say "I would like..." instead of "I want..." ___ To say "please" and "thank you" a lot - a person probably canšt say "please" or "thank you" too much ___ To not invite other kids over to your house until you ask your parents ___ To not put things in your ears ___ To avoid saying "want" and to use "would like" instead ___ That you can't jump off from a high place with an umbrella or blanket, etc (like a parachute) without getting hurt badly ___ To take only what you can eat and to eat what you take ___ How to blow nose ___ To say "yes" instead of "yeah" ___ That there are some bad grown-ups who could try to take you somewhere ___ How to recognize bad grown-ups who could try to take you somewhere ___ How to avoid being taken somewhere by bad grown-ups ___ Agree on a code word that your parents would give to someone if they want them to pick you up ___ Learn to swim ___ Start learning how to cross the street safely ___ Start learning to not eat too much bad food and to eat a variety of good foods in moderation PARENTS: ___ Give your child a codeword that you would use if you need to have someone your child doesn't know pick him/her up ___ Talk to the other parent about how you should respond when your child asks about sensitive subjects, e.g., sex ___ Ensure your child knows he/she can always come to you if he/she has questions ___ Consider controlling what your child watches on TV: ___ Ask your cable TV company for passwords to use when ordering pay-per-view programming ___ Avoid shows with violence ___ Avoid shows with adult themes (unless an adult is present to explain the situation(s)) ___ Avoid shows with commercials ___ Encourage watching educational shows, e.g., on public television Age 4: ___ Start learning a second language - easier to learn at early age ___ Ask your parents to talk to you about peer pressure ___ Be aware that only 3 out of 4 children achieve night-time dryness by age of 5 ___ Learn: ___ Most TV shows do not reflect real life ___ Phone etiquette ___ If you go into a public rest room while your parent waits outside and someone bothers you, to run away and/or scream (e.g., "you're not my Daddy") PARENTS: ___ Explain to your child that how a person looks is not important, how they treat other people is important ___ Buy books which will help you to talk to your child about sex As often as feasible: ___ Try to take your child to things he/she can do rather than things he/she would just observe ___ Give your child lots of love and support - so he/she won't seek it from bad friends, gangs, etc. ___ Keep your child busy with interesting and beneficial activities - so he/she won't be tempted by undesirable activities (e.g., trying illegal drugs, vandalism) due to boredom ___ Ensure you are aware of, and understand, what your child is going through, e.g.: ___ Go to the places they go to ___ Listen to the music they listen to ___ Watch the movies they see ___ Volunteer to help in his/her classroom Age 5: ___ Consider having sealants put on applicable teeth - to help prevent cavities ___ Be aware that only 3 out of 4 children achieve night-time dryness by age of 5 ___ Learn: ___ To be kind ___ To be trustworthy ___ To be respectful towards others ___ To be responsibile for your actions ___ To be fair ___ To be caring ___ To be a good citizen (doing your share, obeying the law, etc.) ___ To treat others the way you would like for others to treat you ___ To walk, not ride, your bike across intersections, especially those with traffic lights ___ While riding a bike, to not turn sharply on surface with sand, dirt, water, etc. on it Regularly: ___ Ask your parents if there are any chores you can do, either just to help out or for money PARENTS: ___ Encourage your child to ask if there are any chores he/she can do, either just to help out or for money ___ Even if your child has learned to swim, don't leave him/her unsupervised near water, even very shallow water If you haven't started saving for your child's college education: ___ Invest money in a regular growth fund - less risk than an aggressive growth fund Age 6: ___ Learn: ___ You shouldn't even try smoking because: - It kills many people - It is very hard to quit - it is believed that over 85% of those who try to quit, fail - It harms and offends other people - It is very expensive PARENTS: ___ Ensure your child would feel comfortable telling you if he/she was exposed to (e.g., tried) alcohol, smoking or illegal drugs ___ Check out books, video's, etc. from the library, video store, etc. to help you talk to your child about sex ___ Talk to your child about sex, perhaps using books, video's, etc. ___ Explain to your child what is involved in a good relationship between a man and a woman, e.g.: ___ Communication ___ Respect ___ Mutual interests Age 7: ___ Be aware that child abductors: - Most often target boys and girls 10-12 years old - just reaching puberty and anxious to demonstrate their independence from their parents - Usually target their victims early in the day, then attack between 3-6 p.m. - Usually use a 2-door sedan - harder for a victim to escape from PARENTS: ___ Tell your child about the dangers of drugs - tell him/her that you know it's difficult to say "no" to friends who offer you drugs ___ Be aware, and warn your child, that child abductors: ___ Most often target boys and girls 10-12 years old - just reaching puberty and anxious to demonstrate their independence from their parents ___ Usually target their victims early in the day, then attack between 3-6 p.m. ___ Usually use a 2-door sedan - harder for a victim to escape from ___ Talk to your child about the following (perhaps using books, videos, etc. from the library): - Puberty - Sex (in general terms, e.g., a man and a woman have to get together to have a baby) - Reproduction PARENTS OF A BOY: ___ Explain to your son that erections are normal, even while you're sleeping, and that sometimes there is a discharge ("wet dream") Age 8: ___ Talk to your parents about why you shouldn't try illegal drugs PARENTS: ___ Explain that very few people (especially women) look the way they are often portrayed on TV, in magazines, on billboards, etc. ___ Remind your child that it is important to treat others based on how they treat others and not based on their appearance ___ Talk to your child about: ___ Sex in general terms, including: ___ Masturbation (e.g., not unhealthy) ___ AIDS/HIV ___ Venereal diseases ___ Homosexuality PARENTS OF A GIRL: ___ Talk to your daughter about menstruation Age 9: PARENTS: ___ Be aware that girls and boys 10-12 years old are the prime target of child molesters/abducters - because they're just reaching puberty and they tend to be anxious to demonstrate some independence ___ Be aware that children, especially boys, may be reluctant to tell you about someone trying to molest or abduct them because they're afraid you'll restrict their freedom Age 10: ___ Ask your parents if you can offer to do chores (e.g., mow yards) for money ___ Write and sign a promise to your parents to never try illegal drugs ___ Promise to tell your parents if you ever see, or are offered, illegal drugs ___ Realize that you have reached the age at which you are especially susceptible to the temptation to try illegal drugs GIRLS ___ Expect your first menstrual period within the next few years (many girls have cramping shortly before their first period) ___ Start carrying sanitary napkins with you PARENTS If you haven't started saving for your child's college education: ___ Invest money, e.g., in an equity income fund Age 11: ___ Review sections for earlier ages to ensure you've completed applicable items Age 12: ___ Learn CPR (contact American Heart Association, American Red Cross, National Safety Council, etc.) GIRLS: ___ Delay the start of sexual activity - girls who start sexual activity before age of 18 are more likely to develop cervical cancer from an human papilloma virus (HPV)) Age 13: ___ Review sections for earlier ages to ensure you've completed applicable items PARENTS: ___ Be aware that approx. 4 of 5 people try smoking cigarettes before they are 18 Age 14: ___ Review sections for earlier ages to ensure you've completed applicable items Age 15: PARENTS: ___ Don't put undue pressure on your child to pursue a specific career, e.g., don't try to live vicariously through your child - your child most likely has different talents and interests than you ___ Expose your child to a wide variety of career options, e.g., introduce him/her to people you know in different careers ___ Encourage, but don't control, your child in his/her job search If you haven't started saving for your child's college education: ___ Invest money, e.g., 25% in equities and 75% in a fixed income fund Age 16: ___ Review sections for earlier ages to ensure you've completed applicable items Age 17: ___ Review sections for earlier ages to ensure you've completed applicable items Age 18: If you're a male U.S. citizen: Within 30 days before or after your 18th birthday: ___ Determine if you need to register with the Selective Service (go to http://www.sss.gov/) ___ Register to vote and then vote in elections PARENTS: ___ Let child move out (if he/she wants to) Age 21: ___ Review sections for earlier ages to ensure you've completed applicable items Age 30: ___ Consider taking DHEA (see DHEA) ___ Review the symptoms of a heart attack Age 35: MEN: ___ Get a rectal exam - can help detect rectal cancer ___ Consider getting a blood test to check for elevated levels of prostatic-specific antagens WOMEN: If you have any of the following risk factors for breast cancer: - Family history of breast cancer - Having non-cancerous breast disease - Prior breast cancer - Have especially dense breast tissue - Had first child after you were 30 years old ___ Ask your doctor about getting your first mammogram and getting annual mammograms for the rest of your life (see MAMMOGRAMS) Age 40: ___ Review the symptoms of a stroke (see STROKES in Checklists to Memorize) WOMEN: ___ Prepare for menopause (see MENOPAUSE) ___ Ask your doctor about getting your first mammogram and getting annual mammograms for the rest of your life (see MAMMOGRAMS) After menopause: WOMEN: ___ Ask your doctor about taking estrogren replacement therapy and/or the herb rosemary - may reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease Age 50: ___ Be careful to not fall, especially when carrying things - as you get older, it's easier to get hurt and takes much longer to recover from injuries ___ Start eating smaller meals more often during the day - to help burn fat faster ___ Check out 50something.com/) Age 59: ___ Consider taking funds out of your Individual Retirement Account (IRA) Age 65: Regularly: ___ Ask for senior citizen discounts for events, lodging, transportation, meals, etc. Well before you die: ___ Advise family and friends of your desires in the event that you can only be kept alive by life support systems and there is no hope of recovery ___ Establish a living will to dictate what you would like done in the event you become no longer able to speak for yourself ___ Consider appointing someone to act as your decision maker in the event you become no longer able to speak for yourself ___ Advise members of your family that you want your organs made available for transplanting - your organs can save many lives - if organs become more available, there will be less incentive for countries to execute prisoners to sell their organs ___ Warn relatives, etc. to be wary of strangers' offers right after you die - con artists often check obituaries and contact relatives soon afterwards Back to Top
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