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Back-to-school season is a great time to make sure your child is caught up on all their vaccines.
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You should also make sure that your child or teen sees their provider for a wellness visit. This allows the provider to ensure that the child is growing appropriately and seeing and hearing well.
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Once you have your child’s wellness visits covered, be sure to spend some time setting healthy routines for the year.
Back-to-school health checklist: Vaccines, wellness and mental readiness
Beginnings are a good opportunity to take stock of your health and wellness — and what better time to do so for your kids than at the beginning of the school year?
We spoke to some of Providence’s top pediatricians about how you can best prepare your children and teens for a physically and mentally healthy year of learning.
Why vaccines are essential before school starts
Vaccines, also called immunizations, play a vital public health role in protecting children from some diseases.
“Vaccines are an important part of your child’s health and integral to keeping them healthy and safe,” explains Elizabeth Meade, M.D., parent, pediatrician and medical director of quality for pediatrics at Providence Swedish. “The routine vaccines we give children are safe, they’re effective and they protect them from deadly diseases that not so long ago were running pretty rampant in the United States.”
You can think of vaccines in two buckets — the primary series of vaccines and boosters.
Childhood vaccine schedule
Young infants get a primary series of vaccines that follow a recommended schedule. These vaccines protect children from some of the most dangerous diseases. Examples include:
- DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis) vaccine
- Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine
- Hepatitis B vaccine
- Inactivated polio vaccine (IPV)
- Rotavirus vaccine (RV)
- Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR)
- Varicella (chickenpox)
View our vaccine schedule infographic.
Booster vaccines
Older kids and adults typically get booster vaccines. The most common are annual flu shots and COVID-19 boosters.
The best part about getting your child the vaccines they need is that it’s easy. Just ask your child’s provider at their annual wellness check.
What happens during a back-to-school wellness exam?
The back-to-school season is a great time for your child’s wellness checkup. Children should see a doctor for a well-visit at least once a year, even if they are otherwise healthy.
“We’re here all year, but birthdays and back-to-school are good reminders to make an appointment for your child’s wellness check-up,” says Jennifer Wild, M.D., a pediatrician at Providence Medical Group.
During these annual visits, your child’s pediatrician will conduct:
- Behavioral assessments, including checking mental health, diet and sleep
- Physical assessments, including measuring height, weight and blood pressure
- Childhood vaccines and other scheduled assessments
- Vision and hearing screenings
These well-child visits are also great opportunities to get advice from your health care provider on helping your child if you have any concerns about their physical, emotional or mental health.
Supporting your child’s mental and emotional health
Even children who love school can experience first-day jitters, but helping them to establish a routine can get them through their first day of school and beyond. You can support your child’s mental health and well-being for their first day of school by:
- Helping your child learn coping techniques for stressful moments
- Preparing school supplies ahead of time and practicing your morning routine to reduce first-day stress
- Setting up bedtime, sleep schedules and wake-up rituals before the school year starts
- Staying engaged with your child’s social network, teachers and other staff
Most importantly, continue to keep the mental health conversation going throughout the school year — and listen when your child wants to share.
Communication is especially important for parents of teens, who can benefit greatly from a safe space to talk. As much as you may want to guide them to what you think they should be talking about, let them direct the conversation and help them find coping mechanisms for what’s bothering them.
Establishing healthy routines for the school year
Once you have your child’s wellness visits and recommended vaccines covered, help them stay healthy all year while they’re at school by doing the following:
- Collaborate with your child’s teacher to make sure food allergies and dietary restrictions are known for classroom celebrations.
- Help your child stay hydrated with a reusable water bottle for their lunch box.
- Make (and test) new, creative and nutritious lunch options.
- Practice “safety first” when it comes to school sports, including concussion protocols.
- Prevent back and shoulder pain with a new backpack.
- Remind your child to wash their hands.
- Support your child’s classroom with sustainable school supplies.
- Make sure they are sleeping enough. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, school-age children should sleep 9-12 hours per day, and teens should sleep 8-10 hours per day.
How Providence can help you get ready
At Providence, we want to make sure your children are all ready for the school year. If they haven’t had an annual wellness check or gotten all the vaccines they need, now is the time to make an appointment.
“If you ever have a question or concern about a vaccine or something else about your child’s health, or you just want more information, their health care provider is the perfect place to start,” says Dr. Meade.
Your provider will answer your questions and provide information. Together, you can form a plan that works for you and your family.
Contributing caregivers
Elizabeth Meade, M.D., is a parent, pediatrician and medical director of quality for pediatrics at Providence Swedish.
Jennifer Wild, M.D., is a pediatrician at Providence Medical Group.
Find a doctor
If you are looking for a pediatrician, you can find one who’s right for you in our provider directory. Through Providence Express Care Virtual, you can access a full range of health care services.
Download the Providence app
It’s all in the app: easily stay connected with Providence and your health. With the Providence app, you can schedule appointments, have virtual visits from the comfort of your home, get personalized health recommendations, access your health records and so much more. Learn more and download the app.
Related resources
The unique needs of 6-12-year-olds
Teens shine spotlight on mental health awareness
Why your child’s pediatrician is so important during puberty
This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your health care professional’s instructions.
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