Back-to-School Health Checklist
As summer comes to an end, many parents across the U.S. are preparing their kids for the new school year. This includes routine health checkups that can help ensure your children are up to date on their immunizations, ready to play sports, and emotionally and mentally fit to handle any challenges that may come their way next year.
Here is a list of resources for your children’s back-to-school health needs.
Immunizations
Keeping your children up to date on vaccines and immunizations can reduce their risk for infectious diseases and illnesses that can often circulate among kids at school. Plus, most schools require children to be up to date on immunizations before they can return in the fall.
Schedule an appointment with your children’s pediatrician prior to the new school year so they can receive the latest immunizations. Consult the CDC’s Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule, which features a list of all recommended immunizations for youth aged 18 years and under. Your pediatrician can review your children’s medical records to confirm which shots they need and administer them on the spot.
Ask your pediatrician about the current season’s flu vaccine as well. According to the CDC, kids younger than five years old are at higher risk of developing serious flu-related complications than older kids. Ear infections, pneumonia, and inflammation of the heart (myocarditis) are some of the many serious flu-related complications that can affect your children.
Lastly, don’t forget to talk to your pediatrician about the COVID-19 vaccine for children. The CDC now recommends COVID-19 vaccines for children six months and older, and boosters for children five years and older, if they are eligible. Getting your children vaccinated against COVID-19 can help protect them from severe disease, hospitalization, or death.
Yearly Checkups and Sports Physicals
Annual physicals and checkups are essential to making sure your children are healthy and illness free before going back to school. During these appointments, your pediatrician will check your children’s weight, height, vision, and hearing. Your provider may also check your kids’ blood pressure, listen to their heart and lungs, and ensure they are up to date on their immunizations.
Most schools require children to have annual physicals before the start of every new school year. If your kids are enrolling in sports, they may need an annual sports physical as well, which is separate from an annual physical.
During a sports physical, your provider will verify that your children can safely play sports based on their health status. This usually involves reviewing your kids’ medical histories for chronic conditions like asthma or type 1 diabetes, reviewing past injuries, and discussing allergies or medications they are currently using that may interfere with their sports activities.
Dental Cleanings and Checkups
Routine dental cleanings will give your dentist the opportunity to look for signs of oral health problems in your children and treat them early on before they progress. The CDC reports that more than half of children between the ages of six and eight get cavities in at least one of their baby teeth and that their risk for cavities increases if they consume lots of sugary foods and drinks between meals.
Schedule an appointment with your children’s dentist prior to the new school year. Your dentist will clean their teeth, inspect for signs of cavities, and talk to you and your children about basic pediatric dental care. This includes practicing good nutrition, softly wiping the gums before bedtime, and brushing twice daily.
Mental Health Checks
Studying, homework, sports, and peer pressure are some of the many factors that can cause your children to experience psychological distress. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, approximately 50% of lifetime mental health conditions begin before the age of 14.
Many doctors now recommend that children get mental health checks before going back to school so they can spot signs of psychological distress and address them right away. Early detection of mental health disorders can also pave the way for more effective and successful treatment.
If you’re not completely sure whether you should schedule a mental health check for your children, start by filling out an online questionnaire about any symptoms they may be experiencing. This questionnaire from Mental Health America can help you determine whether your kids are experiencing any emotional, attentional, or behavioral difficulties. Then, review the results to find out whether your children should see a mental health specialist prior to starting school.
Research and materials for this article were compiled, written, and distributed on behalf of the National Public Health Information Coalition. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of the various authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the National Public Health Information Coalition or its members.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, February 17). Child and adolescent immunization schedule.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, October 25). Flu & young children.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, July 21). COVID-19 vaccines for children and teens.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, April 6). Children’s oral health.
National Alliance on Mental Illness. (n.d.) Mental health screening.
Mental Health America. (n.d.) Parent test: Your child’s mental health.