Your child’s school or sports team may require a checkup in order to register in July and August for the Fall school year or team sports. Appointment times fill up fast, so schedule a back-to-school checkup today. Call 733-5437 to secure your choice of appointment times and check that off you’re list!

Why Should You Schedule a Well-Child Checkup?

A well-child checkup is an important part of making sure your child is healthy and up-to-date on all their vaccinations and is the best time to bring forms for our doctors to fill out for school registration and sports physicals. Due to mis-information about health risks associated with vaccines, an alarming number of children are developing diseases that were once thought to be eradicated from the United States. In fact,the rise in measles as reached an epidemic in the United Kingdom and the CDC fears that if parents continue to allow vaccinations to lapse, the U.S. could see a similar consequence.

Luckily in the United States, all public schools require vaccinations to be up-to-date for a child to attend school and play sports. If your child attends a private school you should inquire about their vaccination policy to verify if your child will be attending school with children who have not been vaccinated against contagious diseases.

School Registration: Your child’s school should require proof that all vaccinations are up-to-date. Often vaccination recommendations change and your child may need a booster shot or new vaccination. Don’t get caught without a current shot record when you register your child for school this fall.

Sports Physicals: If your child plans on playing sports, they may be required to have a sports physical. Schools will provide UIL forms, and you must bring the forms to the appointment with the parent portion already filled out. Our physicians will perform the appropriate exams and complete the paper work.

The Importance of a Well-Child Checkup

In addition to required back-to-school checkups, well-child checkups are an important part of managing your child’s health.

A Well-Child Checkup Allows the Doctor to Focus More Broadly

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), annual well child checkups are just as important as bringing your child to the pediatrician when he or she feels sick. When a sick child comes to the doctor, the doctor’s focus is rightfully on the symptoms of that illness. The priority is to make the child feel better. On the other hand, when a healthy child visits the pediatrician, the doctor is free to take a broader look at the child’s overall health and wellbeing. The doctor has time to ask more questions. Not to mention, the symptoms of a temporary illness can often mask trouble spots that would put a doctor on alert during a well-child check-up.

Continuity of Care Establishing a Medical History

One of the most important reasons for a regular annual checkup is continuity of care. Not every health-related issue has symptoms that are easy to spot. Some present themselves subtly, so subtly that parents might not even notice. When you bring your child to the pediatrician annually for a Well-Child checkup, the pediatrician will compare the results of this year to those of the previous year, and will be able to spot any troubling trends. Early intervention can get health issues under control before they become disruptive. In some cases, early intervention can mean the difference between life and death. By bringing your child to the doctor every year even when he or she is healthy, you’re establishing a medical history for your child. If you move to another city or state, you can transfer these medical records; giving the new doctor the necessary information to provide the best possible healthcare for your family.

Teaching Your Child To Take Responsibility For Their Health

Well-Child Checkups give pediatricians the luxury of time, which empowers us to educate children about important health issues. If your child is overweight or obese, we can counsel them on healthy eating and exercise. If your teenager shows signs of smoking, we can show them some of the very real consequences that smokers face. Sometimes a doctor can get through when a parent can’t. This luxury of time means your child can ask questions, too.

Your job as a parent is to prepare your child to grow into a healthy adult; understanding their body is a big part of that. The human body can be very mysterious, particularly during puberty. Some children feel more comfortable asking questions to a doctor, rather than their parents. Give your child every opportunity to get the information they need to stay safe and healthy.

Call 733-5437 to Schedule Your Back-to-School Checkup Now! Our available appointments for Well-Child exams fill up fast! Call us today at Pediatric Center of Round Rock to schedule a well-child checkup for your children and be prepared for August school and sports registration. You can reach us at (512) 733-5437.