SEATTLE — As summer winds down and the new school year is upon us, many parents are focused on getting their kids ready to head back to the classroom. Scheduling your child’s annual wellness check-up before the start of the school year or shortly after can help them stay healthy.
“It can help establish a good relationship with your pediatrician,” said Dr. Troy Yi, pediatrician at Swedish Pediatrics Meadow Creek Clinic. “You can talk through any concerns that you have."
Vaccinations are a key part of wellness check-ups, and your child’s doctor will make sure they are up to date on immunizations. Doctors can also help address any stress or anxiety kids may have about going back to school.
“Anxiety is very natural,” Dr. Yi said. “It’s a natural response when you have a change in your environment or your setting, especially for children.”
For preschoolers, parents can ease worry by talking with them about what to expect and even visiting the school ahead of time. For elementary-aged kids, play dates with classmates before school starts can be helpful, as well as establishing a buddy system for riding the bus.
Screen time is a challenge for many parents, and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that after five years of age, we limit screen time to two hours a day.
“For younger kids, like elementary school and preschool, it’s good to watch educational content together,” Dr. Yi said. “Parents can walk kids through the emotions they’re feeling, what they’re watching on TV and make it a learning environment.”
With older kids, maintaining that screen time limit can help them develop relationships and get needed physical activity.
Sleep is another important factor in a kid’s day, and Dr. Yi suggests calculating how much sleep your child needs. It’s usually between 9 and 12 hours per night. You can then decide what time they need to be in bed to get the ideal amount of sleep.
“One thing that has helped a lot of parents is a week or two before school, getting them to wake up at that normal time can help with that transition,” he said.
At an appointment, a pediatrician will also assess growth and development, as well as talk about nutrition and physical activity. These discussions can help set a child up for success for the school year ahead.
To learn more and schedule a doctor’s appointment, visit the Providence Swedish website.
Sponsored by Providence Swedish
Segment Producer Suzie Wiley. Watch New Day Northwest at 11 a.m. weekdays on KING 5 and streaming live on KING5.com. Contact New Day.