Summertime flies, and now that we’re into August, it’s time to think ahead to medical appointments and back-to-school health checklists before the first day of school.
Don’t forget that you can use PANW’s convenient Patient Portal to schedule back-to-school appointments from the comfort of your road-tripping car or wherever your summer adventures may find you.
Help Kiddos Start the School Year Off Right: Check These Healthy Boxes Off Your List
Some of these items require making an appointment; others are just healthy back-to-school reminders that will help your children, and your household, transition more smoothly into the Monday-to-Friday routine.
Review vaccination records
This is a good time to review your children’s vaccination records and ensure they are up to date. Most schools schedule a review before students enter kindergarten and junior high or middle school. However, if your child is transferring to a new school, they may want to see a copy of your immunization records for in-house verification preferences.
You can always contact us here at Pediatric Associates of the Northwest to request copies or log in to your patient portal, where you can conveniently download or print the records.
Schedule a sports physical
If your child already plays a school sport, you’ve likely received communication from the athletic department or the coach. However, most parks and recreation departments and club sports teams also want to have a record showing your child is physically sound enough to play the sport of their choice.
Sports Physical Forms can be brought into our office or sent through the Patient Portal. Your child needs to have had a wellness check within the last 2 years, and please remember to complete the “History” section on the first page before submitting the whole form to our office. Please note that it can take up to 72 hours for us to complete the forms and return them to you. To avoid any scheduling conflicts, schedule your appointment with sufficient time to ensure your child doesn’t miss any practice or tryout time.
Start easing your way back into the daily routine
By the middle of August, it’s a good idea to start easing the family’s way back into the school day routine. This makes the transition much easier, especially if you have a child starting kindergarten.
Ideas to begin shifting the schedule and expectations include:
- Rewinding the bedtime. Summertime offers the benefit of more flexible sleep and wake times, especially for older children and teens. Begin stepping back bedtime by about 15 to 30 minutes per week so they can start back at school well-rested.
- Starting to match the school day meal schedule. Once kids are back in school, there’s a much stricter schedule guiding their breakfast, snack, and lunchtime. This can make for some irritable and grouchy students if their bodies are anchored to the summer break, rather than the school time schedule. By starting to schedule breakfast and lunch around the same time as their schools, they’ll feel more energized and able to focus.
- Talking about what to expect for the first days and weeks of school. The transition from summer break to the first day of school can be more challenging for children than they let on. This is especially true if they are changing schools or tend to have social anxiety. Midsummer is a perfect time to open the conversation about the feelings that arise around the start of a new school year. As a parent, you have the opportunity to be quiet, curious, and completely open to what your child shares, helping them identify tools that can assist with the more challenging aspects that may arise. Our behavioral health psychologists are always available as well if your child needs additional support.
Wean them off extended screen time privileges
Are your children allowed to spend more time on screens or tech during the summer break? This is entirely normal, but now is a good time to begin the weaning process. Remember that there is a proven addictive quality to screens/gadgets, so it can take a bit of time for kids who are more attached to screens than others.
Getting back to a healthier balance of screen time vs. school and playtime may require:
- Letting them know ahead of time that things will be changing so they have time to adjust. Setting a date is a good idea (“Hey sweetheart, just wanted to let you know that starting next Monday, we’re going to start getting back to the school year screentime schedule”).
- Revisiting parent controls. Log back into your internet provider’s parental controls to ensure they’re set to the new school schedule and screentime rhythm. Do the same on each of their phones/gadgets if applicable.
- Gradually scale back access. If summer usage is drastically different than what you allow during school days, gradually scale back access so they get used to it little by little. Making the shift cold turkey can result in more pushback or arguments.
Schedule an annual eye exam with your optometrist
While we provide basic vision screenings during annual physicals, they’re not the same as a comprehensive vision exam from an optometrist. Children are highly adaptable, and it’s easy for them to have some degree of vision loss without anyone knowing – until an official exam. Schedule an optometrist exam to ensure your child is set up for success in the classroom.
Have Questions About the Back-to-School Health Checklist? PANW Is Here to Help!
Do you have questions about this and other back-to-school health topics? The team at PANW is here to help and ease your child’s transition in any way we can. Contact us to schedule an appointment so we can ensure you have everything you need to start this school year off on the right foot.
