Give Your Kids a Healthy Start to the Year with Our Back-To-School Checklist

Summer in Michigan is definitely too short! The new school year is right around the corner, and for some it’s already started. Before we get back to a family schedule packed with events, school assignments, and deciding how to decorate for Halloween, take a moment to go over this checklist to help get your kids off to the best start to a new school year.

Help your child get a good night’s sleep

Getting a good night’s sleep is a foundational key to good health at every age. All kids whip out the phone even after parents think it’s “lights out” so it’s up to you to have that conversation with your child. The change from more relaxed summer sleeping schedules to a more defined sleep-wake time means you need to be careful and strategic to insure your child gets the required amount of sleep each night. Creating a quiet “wind down” time before bed and sticking to a consistent bedtime is key. Make sure your child’s bedroom is completely dark and quiet. Many experts agree that a cooler sleeping temperature (around 67-68 degrees) promotes better sleep. The Cleveland Clinic created a concise guideline with the recommended sleep times by age from new born to 18 years old. The article goes on to support the fact that children need good quality of sleep to be their best in many ways.

Annual complete physical and vaccination update

Every child needs a complete physical examination by a primary care physician once a year. Many parents take care of this during the summer when schedules are more relaxed. If you didn’t do that, don’t let the whole school year go by before you make that appointment. The annual visit allows your primary care physician to track your child’s key health metrics and spot any concerning health issues. Importantly, this is the time to review all vaccines that need to be administered or updated.

August is National Immunization Awareness Month – highlighting the vital role of routine vaccines across all life stages – from infancy through senior adulthood. Your primary care physician is the best resource to discuss and recommend what vaccines are needed for your child.

Get that sports physical now

To be clear, a sports physical is NOT a replacement for a complete annual physical. A sports physical covers very basic health and mobility parameters and may be required by your child’s school in order to participate in a variety of sports and non-academic activities. If your child has recently had a complete annual physical with a primary care physician, they may be able to sign your sports physical documents for you. If not, come see us at any of the seven IEP Urgent Care locations in metro Detroit for a $25.00 sports physical. Come in any time – no appointment needed – or book online for a time that’s convenient for you.

Vision and hearing

Basic vision and hearing tests can usually be conducted by your primary care physician. If they spot anything that needs further attention, they will refer you to a specialist for further evaluation.

See your dentist

An annual dental visit is an important part of good health at every age. A basic evaluation and cleaning at least once a year is important for children and their parents

Make family time count. Put down the phone.

Kids are glued to their phones. YOU are glued to your phone. Notice how often you are in the same room with your family, yet no one is speaking to each other. And this is just the same complaint parents made about television years ago. It’s true. When you are glued to an electronic device, there’s no connection, no conversation, and no chance for you to learn about what your child is feeling and experiencing. And without knowing that, you aren’t able to help guide them through these sometimes challenging K-12 years.

You need to be proactive to stop this cycle. Consider taking a walk together without looking at your phone. There are many documented health benefits to walking in nature. It’s a calming and restorative activity for everyone.

We strongly suggest you consider banning phone use at the dinner table for everyone. Consider limiting the hours that your child can be on an electronic device/social media. Some schools in our area have banned the use of cell phones during school hours.