The end of summer is in sight, and that means it’s almost time to head back to school. Early August can be a busy time of shopping for school supplies, finding new clothes and trying to squeeze in a little more summer fun. Even with a hectic schedule, don’t forget about back-to-school check-ups and screenings.
Routine Physical
A routine physical helps ensure that there are no apparent problems with your child’s development. Before the school year starts, you can catch issues early if they are present and begin intervention. To make the most out of a back-to-school physical, go in with specific questions and topics for your primary care physician. Share concerns like cognitive or behavioral problems, check that your child is meeting important developmental milestones and talk about any changes you’ve noticed concerning eating habits, sleeping or mental and physical well being.
Immunizations
Your child’s school may require vaccination information before the start of the new school year. Currently, Missouri schools require students in kindergarten through grade 12 to receive vaccinations for polio; measles, mumps and rubella (MMR); diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTaP); hepatitis B6; and chickenpox. Additionally, students in grades nine to 9 should receive meningococcal conjugate (MCV) and tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccines.
Vision Screenings
Seeing clearly is a key component of success at school—from being able to read the fine print of textbooks or see the whiteboard from a distance. To ensure your child can learn effectively, they should be evaluated on a variety of vision skills, such as visual acuity or seeing clearly at a distance, eye focusing, tracking, hand-eye coordination, perception and teaming or the ability to coordinate both eyes. Problems with any of these visual skills may add to your child’s academic load as they have to work harder to keep up. Often, children do not realize they have a vision problem and assume everyone sees as they do, so it’s important to schedule an annual comprehensive eye exam before the start of the school year.
Athlete Care
Student athletes may require additional check-ups or medical conversations. Talk with your medical provider about considerations like maintaining a healthy diet, exercising safely and managing your child’s physical condition while they play. If your child has suffered an injury recently, getting it checked before school begins can help ensure a proper recovery and determine if your child is ready to participate in their sports season.