School Is Back! 6 Health To-Dos Parents Should Take Care of Now

The first day of school may already be here, but that does not mean you missed your chance to get your family’s health needs organized for the new school year.

Once classes, sports, homework, and activities begin, schedules fill up quickly. Taking care of a few basic health needs now can help prevent last-minute appointments, missed medications, and stressful school mornings later.

At The Clinic at Glen Rose, we are here to help families in Glen Rose and the surrounding communities stay healthy throughout the school year.

1. Schedule Your Child’s Annual Checkup

An annual wellness visit is a good opportunity to make sure your child is growing and developing appropriately and to address any concerns you may have before the school year becomes busy.

During a routine visit, your healthcare provider may review your child’s:

• Growth and development

• Medical history

• Current medications

• Sleep habits

• Nutrition and physical activity

• School or behavioral concerns

• Immunization history

It is also a great time for parents and older children to ask questions they may not think to bring up during a sick visit.

2. Don’t Forget Sports Physicals

Fall sports and extracurricular activities are getting underway, and many programs require an up-to-date sports physical before a student can participate.

Sports physicals can help identify medical conditions, previous injuries, or other concerns that could affect safe participation.

If your child still needs a physical or has paperwork that needs to be completed, scheduling it now can help avoid missed practices or games.

3. Review Medications and Refills

The beginning of school is a good time to look through your child’s medications and make sure prescriptions are current.

This may include medications for:

• ADHD

• Asthma

• Allergies

• Other chronic medical conditions

If your child takes medication during the school day, check with the school nurse about any paperwork or medication authorization forms that may be required.

Families with children taking medications for ADHD or other ongoing conditions should also make sure follow-up appointments are scheduled so there is no interruption in treatment once school begins.

4. Double-Check Immunization Records

If you have received a notice from the school about missing vaccination records or are unsure whether your child is up to date, now is a good time to check.

Your healthcare provider can review your child’s immunization history and discuss what may be recommended or required based on age, health history, and school requirements.

Taking care of missing documentation early can prevent problems later in the semester.

5. Get the Sleep Schedule Back on Track

Even if school has already started, it may take a week or two for everyone to adjust to earlier mornings.

Children and teenagers benefit from a consistent sleep routine, especially as homework, sports, and extracurricular activities begin competing for evening time.

Helpful habits include:

• Keeping bedtime and wake-up times consistent

• Limiting screens before bedtime

• Creating a quiet nighttime routine

• Avoiding caffeine late in the day

• Building in enough time for adequate sleep

Good sleep supports concentration, mood, learning, and overall health.

6. Make a Plan for Sick Days

With students back together in classrooms, coughs, sore throats, stomach bugs, and other common illnesses are never far behind.

Before the first sick morning arrives, know where you plan to take your child and how you will contact their healthcare provider.

Establishing a relationship with a local primary care clinic means your healthcare team can become familiar with your child’s medical history and ongoing needs—not just see them when they are sick.

Start the School Year Healthy

The backpacks may already be packed and the first school bell may have rung, but it is not too late to take care of the health details that can make the rest of the school year run more smoothly.

The Clinic at Glen Rose provides primary care for children, teens, and adults, including wellness visits, sick visits, medication management, sports physicals, and ongoing care for chronic conditions.

To schedule an appointment with The Clinic at Glen Rose, call (254) 513-2300.

We look forward to helping your family have a healthy and successful school year.