Childhood is a time of growth and development, with the foundation set by parents delivering benefits throughout a person’s life. To give a child the best opportunity for good physical and emotional health, kids should receive regular well-child care services in Cumming. While these visits are critical for a newborn, it’s also important to maintain checkups during the school years.
Why School-Aged Kids Should Attend Well-Child Checkups
When a child gets sick, parents will naturally schedule a visit with a pediatrician. However, regular well-child checkups are equally important throughout a child’s development years. Let’s examine some of the reasons why school-aged kids need well checks.
Monitor Growth and Development
Regular checkups allow healthcare providers to monitor a child’s growth and development, ensuring appropriate milestones are being met. When a pediatrician identifies potential developmental delays or physical growth problems, the resulting early interventions will be important in limiting long-term issues.
Get the Recommended Immunizations
During well checks, pediatricians administer vaccinations that protect against many diseases. Most immunizations occur in the years before kids start school, delivering crucial protection against hepatitis, rotavirus and other diseases. However, school-aged children may still require vaccinations for HPV, influenza and other conditions.
Attend Sports and Camp Physicals
What you can expect at a school-aged well check for ages 5 to 6 differs somewhat for older children. As children grow, they may begin participating in sports and summer camps, and therefore require a physical. For healthy children these physicals are routine, though for some kids, these exams can identify certain health issues that need to be addressed.
Manage Chronic Diseases
When a child has a chronic condition like asthma, diabetes or epilepsy, regular visits with a healthcare provider can help manage these conditions. In addition, a pediatrician may refer a child to a specialist for certain issues. However, ongoing well-child checks are still valuable in assessing how a disease might be affecting other areas of a child’s development.
Identify Mental and Behavioral Health Concerns
Regular checkups can help identify behavioral issues or mental health concerns that might affect a child’s performance and well-being in school. Anxiety, depression, autism, ADHD and learning disorders are issues that can affect a child’s development – and potentially impede learning. By recognizing these issues early, children can get access to specialized guidance and support.
Receive Effective Nutritional Guidance
Nutrition is absolutely important for growing children, helping to maintain good overall health and cognitive ability. During preschool and school-aged well child visits, a pediatrician will provide recommendations for healthy meals (and properly sized portions) to avoid obesity or undereating. With children being away from home during the day, learning about good nutrition, vitamins and allergies will be helpful.
Trusted Well-Child Checkups in Cumming
Vickery Pediatrics offers well-child and sick care visits for children in Cumming, Buford, Dawsonville, Gainesville, Johns Creek, Sugar Hill, Suwanee and Forsyth County. We work with children of all ages, from newborns to young adults. Call (678) 990-2501 or request an appointment today.
