The Pediatrician-Approved Back-to-School Health Checklist

#1. School Forms and Medication Plans

Before school starts back up, parents need to make sure everything is in order for their child when it comes to their health care needs. Usually, this starts with the school.

Have you completed all the paperwork? Like if your child needs medications at school, have you scheduled an appointment with your child’s doctor to make sure that you have the appropriate medications and paperwork done for your child to have their medications administered or be allowed to carry them at school? This is especially important for kids who need ADHD medications given at school, or if your child has asthma and needs to have an albuterol inhaler. If your child has allergies that require an EpiPen, does the school know about this, and have you completed those forms? If your child has special dietary needs, have you gotten that specific form completed?

There are a bunch of forms, and many parents don’t think about these things until after the school year has started. And then it’s a rush to try to get to the pediatrician to get all this taken care of. With how many kids we see on a daily basis, it’s better to get those forms and prescriptions done before the school year starts. Also, you normally need to do those every year. The forms don’t carry over from year to year. So plan ahead.

#2. Designate an Emergency Contact—and Tell Your Child Who It Is

The school will also ask, in addition to filling out forms on your child’s health care, that an emergency contact be listed in case you, as the parent, are not available. Make sure that your child knows who this emergency contact is.

#3. Make Sure Vaccines Are Up to Date Before School Starts

Next are vaccines. Every year, we have families that scramble to get vaccines done, often because they have not come in for their well-child visits on time, and then they usually have to have visits with their providers, not just quick nurse visits. The schools usually give a little leeway. But after a certain date, they won’t let the kids come back to school unless their vaccines are updated. We see it every year. If you make sure your child has their well visit every year, this won’t be an issue.

#4. Schedule a Well-Child Visit That Covers Vision

Well child exams also include vision screening. Every year, we find that there are kids who really can’t see well. Your child would need an additional visit to an optometrist to get their prescription for glasses if that is the case.

#5. Catch Up on Dental Visits

And don’t forget about dental visits. It’s easier to get them in during the summer, when you don’t need to worry about taking your child out of school for an appointment.

#6. Ease Back Into School Sleep and Screen Time Routines

Sleep schedules are usually way off during the summer for most kids. So, gradually get them back into their school bedtime routine and wake them early enough to give them adequate time to get ready in the morning. This is also going to affect screen time. Many kids get a lot more screen time during the summer than they do during the school year. So they are going to need to start weaning down on that as well. Two hours or less per day is the goal, and it shouldn’t start until after school work has been completed.

#7. Check Your Child’s Backpack Fit and Weight

If your child will be carrying a backpack, make sure that it’s not too heavy and that they use both shoulder straps, not just one. Make sure the straps fit properly, too, so it’s not too big and it’s not too tight.

#8. Review School Sick Day Rules

We see a big increase in illnesses about two weeks after school starts every year. So make sure you review with your school what their policies are about sick days and when your child will need to see a doctor before returning to school.

#9. Ask Your Child How They Feel About the Upcoming School Year

Finally, check in with your child’s mental health. How are they feeling about the upcoming school year? Are they excited, anxious? Make sure that your child knows that you can’t wait to hear all about their new adventures and what they’re learning about.

Following these simple getting ready to get back to school checklist items, your kid is going to be set up for a successful school year.