Back-to-School Checkup

Don’t let the scramble for new book bags distract you. Make sure your back-to-school plan includes a back-to-school checkup with a Grady board-certified pediatrician.

Dr. Michelle Allen, a pediatrician at Grady’s Camp Creek Comprehensive Care Center, recommends children get an annual checkup or visit with their doctor to make sure immunizations are up-to-date, and all developmental and health screenings are done.

“Use back-to-school preparations as a way to make sure your child is protected,” Allen says.

An annual checkup is much more than just vaccinations. Checking your child’s height, weight, blood pressure, hearing, and vision is just part of the exam – we’re also making sure your child meets all the appropriate motor, social, and verbal milestones.

Going back to school is a huge event in a child’s life. Parents should focus on all the things that will make this a good school year, not just the shopping. Paying attention to things that will keep your child healthy will help make the school year happy and successful. To make sure your school-age children are healthy and ready to learn, Grady offers:

• Pediatric and Adolescent Care to age 18
• Routine Care
• Newborn Care
• Immunizations
• Well Child Visits
• Hearing and Vision Screening
• Camp, School, and Sports Physicals

We also want to make sure your child has healthy habits for life. Here are a few habits to build this school year healthy.

1. Make sure your child has an annual Well Child visit.
2. Starts the day with a nutritious breakfast. It improves concentration and energy while boosting their immune system.
3. Practice healthy sleep habits. Inadequate sleep hurts performance and creates stress. If your child stays up later during the summer, consider shifting their bedtime 15 to 30 minutes earlier each day a week before school starts to avoid transitioning during the first week of class.
4. Teach good hand hygiene by reminding children to wash their hands before eating and after using school bathrooms.
5. Talk to your child about going back to school and any jitters, anxiety, or stress associated with that. Create positive thoughts and anticipation about school.