19 Jul Back-to-School Starts with Good Health: Your Family’s Checklist Before the First Bell
As summer winds down, it’s time to start thinking about more than just school supplies and new backpacks. A little planning now can help your child start the school year healthy, confident, and ready to learn.
Use this simple checklist to help your family prepare for a successful return to the classroom.
1. Schedule Your Child’s Annual Wellness Visit
An annual wellness visit is an important part of keeping your child healthy at every stage of growth. These visits give your primary care provider the opportunity to monitor your child’s development, discuss nutrition, sleep, and mental well-being, answer questions, and identify any concerns before they become bigger problems.
Whether your child is starting kindergarten or heading into high school, an annual checkup helps ensure they’re ready for the year ahead.
2. Don’t Wait to Schedule Sports Physicals
For many student-athletes, practices begin before the first day of school. If your child plans to participate in a fall sport, it’s a good idea to schedule their sports physical as early as possible.
Sports physicals help determine whether it’s safe for your child to participate and provide an opportunity to discuss any injuries, medical conditions, or concerns that could affect their performance or safety during the season.
If you’re unsure whether your child’s annual wellness visit can also satisfy their school’s sports physical requirement, our team can help you determine the best option.
3. Make Sure Immunizations Are Up to Date
Vaccinations help protect not only your child, but also classmates, teachers, and the community.
Before school begins, take a few minutes to review your child’s immunization record and make sure they’re up to date on any vaccines recommended for their age or required by their school.
If you have questions about your child’s vaccine schedule, your primary care provider is happy to help.
4. Refill Medications Before School Starts
The beginning of the school year is a great time to make sure your child has everything they need to stay healthy throughout the day.
Check expiration dates and refill prescriptions for medications such as:
- Asthma inhalers
- EpiPens®
- ADHD medications
- Diabetes supplies
- Any routine prescription medications
If your child needs medication during the school day, don’t forget to complete any required school medication authorization forms.
5. Complete School Health Forms Early
Many schools require documentation before the first day of class.
Take time now to gather or complete any needed:
- Sports physical forms
- Medication authorization forms
- Immunization records
- Health plans for chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes, or severe allergies
Getting paperwork completed early can help avoid last-minute stress.
6. Ease Back Into Healthy Routines
Summer schedules often look very different from the school year. Gradually returning to a regular routine can make the transition much easier.
A week or two before school starts:
- Move bedtime earlier by 15–30 minutes each night until your child reaches their school-year schedule.
- Encourage a healthy breakfast to help fuel learning.
- Limit screen time before bed to promote better sleep.
- Re-establish consistent morning and evening routines.
Small changes now can make those first few school mornings much smoother.
7. Check In on Your Child’s Mental Health
Returning to school can bring a mix of excitement, nervousness, and uncertainty. New teachers, new classmates, changing routines, or academic pressures can all affect a child’s emotional well-being.
Take time to ask open-ended questions about how your child is feeling, listen without judgment, and reassure them that it’s normal to have mixed emotions.
If your child seems unusually anxious, withdrawn, or overwhelmed, don’t hesitate to talk with your primary care provider. Early support can make a meaningful difference.
A healthy school year starts long before the first bell rings. By checking a few important items off your list now, you can help your child begin the year feeling prepared, healthy, and ready to succeed.
Start the School Year Strong
If your child is due for an annual wellness visit or needs a sports physical before the school year begins, our team is here to help. We look forward to partnering with your family for another healthy and successful school year.