Summer is flying by and before you know it will be August and the kids will be headed back to school. New clothes, backpacks, lunchboxes and supplies are all a must. But what else do you need to do to make sure your child goes back to school with everything he or she needs to succeed? A trip to the doctor definitely needs to be added to your list of things to do.
The first thing you need to check is to make sure your child is up to date on his or her vaccinations. There are several vaccinations required before your child can start kindergarten and also boosters required throughout middle and high school. Making sure your child is up to date on vaccinations protects both your child and the other children in the school. Check to make sure you have current vaccination requirements and your child is up to date o.n his or her vaccinations.
Eye and hearing tests are also a good idea. Many doctors recommend taking your child to a vision specialist at least once a year, as you may not know if your child is having difficulty seeing. Children adapt easily, and if they are used to the way they see, then they may not realize that they could be seeing clearer. It is also a good idea to get hearing checked, as any hearing impairment can make school seem more difficult and may impede success.
Make sure you check in with the school nurse if your child needs to receive any medication while at school or has any health concerns the school may need to be aware of. Many schools have healthcare authorization forms that need to be filled out and authorization of medication forms if your child needs to take any medication while at school. Make sure all your emergency contact information is up to date at your child’s school as well, so that they may reach you quickly in an emergency situation.
Once August rolls around, it is a good idea to get started on making these healthcare appointments and filling out these healthcare forms so that you can get the school year started off on the right foot