By Dr. Paul Petry,
Freeman Pediatrician
Regardless of what grade your child
is about to enter, a visit to your
pediatrician should always be near the
top of your to-do list.
For some children, back-to-school
check-ups are often the only doctor visit
they'll have all year. They're key to
maintaining medical histories, accessing
preventive care and ensuring your child
has a green light to participate in sports
and other extracurricular activities.
Building a Medical History
The American Academy of Pediatrics
(AAP) recommends all children
receive care from their pediatrician
continuously, over a long period of
time. That way, as your child ages
and develops, his or her care is never
interrupted.
These visits allow your pediatrician
a chance to give the child a thorough
physical exam that can also address
any emotional, developmental or social
concerns.
Additional benefits include:
• Prevention. Your child receives
scheduled immunizations to prevent
illness, as well as vital nutrition and
safety information.
• Charting Growth and Development.
See how much your child has grown
since your last visit, and talk with your
doctor about your child's development,
social behaviors and learning.
• Addressing Concerns. Make a list of
topics you want to discuss – things like
development, behavior, sleep or diet –
and bring up your top three questions or
concerns at the start of the visit.
• Fostering a Team Approach. Regular
visits create strong, trustworthy
relationships among pediatrician, parent
and child. This "team" approach helps
develop optimal physical, mental and
social health in a child.
Are Extracurriculars OK?
Parents should also be sure
extracurricular activities are safe. The
AAP encourages yearly sports physicals
whether one is required for participation
– scheduled, ideally, at the same time as
the annual checkup.
Sports physicals are also an opportunity
to address activity-specific issues
like injury prevention, nutrition
and training. Your pediatrician
can also advise your child about
exercise and training, as overuse
and overtraining injuries continue to be
huge problems among young people.
Freeman Pediatrics wishes you a safe
and healthy 2023-2024 school year!
Visit freemanhealth.com/pediatrics
for more information about pediatric
services at Freeman Health System.
For more back to school tips,
visit healthychildren.org for more
American Association of Pediatrics
recommendations.
SPONSOR CONTENT
Back to School, Back to the Doctor
You Child's Safety and Wellness Should Be At the Top of Your Fall To-Do List
8 • AUGUST 2023 • www.Of f icialKidsMag.com
