Plan Ahead for a Healthy School Year

It's already August, and you're probably wondering, "Where did the summer go?" With school just around the corner, you should also be asking yourself, "Are my children prepared for a healthy school year?"

Here's the first of two checklists in our back-to-school series that can help you get your elementary- and secondary-age children off to a healthy start this school year.

Review and update your child's immunizations records with your doctor

All states now require proof of immunization before children can attend school. Some exemptions are granted for medical reasons or religious beliefs.

State laws vary regarding which immunizations are needed. For example, Georgia requires that children entering daycare or school for the first time are immunized against chickenpox. California and many other states now require proof of complete hepatitis B immunization (in two or three dosage formulas) for students entering kindergarten through seventh grade.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that children between the ages of 4 and 6 have received the following vaccinations:

• Hepatitis B (three vaccinations)



• DTaP (five vaccinations)



• Hib (three or four vaccinations)



• Polio (four vaccinations)



• Measles, mumps, rubella (two vaccinations)



• Chickenpox (two vaccination)



• Pneumococcal (four vaccinations)



• Influenza (flu) (yearly)



• Hepatitis A (two vaccines)

Immunizations are free if your child meets eligibility requirements. You can contact your state or county health department, or call the National Immunization Information Hotline at 1-800-232-2522 (English) or 1-800-232-0233 (Spanish). Be sure to discuss the benefits and risks of all immunizations with your health care provider.

Get a back-to-school checkup for your children

Your child may need a physical exam before they can take part in a school or after-school sports program. Ask your health care provider to sign all sports and school-related permission forms during your child's back-to-school checkup. When you're in the doctor's office, take time to discuss:

• Any new health problems your child had over the summer



• Your family's medical history



• Your child's past injuries



• Any medication your child is taking



• Equipment that your child may need for a fun and safe sports season

Ask your health care provider to check your child's vision

Can your child see the chalkboard clearly? Vision problems can lead to learning problems in school, headaches, fatigue, eyestrain and poor performance in sports. Your child should see an optometrist at least every two years. You should alert your optometrist if your child frequently:

• Loses place while reading or needs to use a finger when reading



• Avoids close work



• Holds reading material closer than normal



• Tends to rub eyes



• Has headaches



• Turns or tilts head to use one eye only



• Makes frequent reversals when reading or writing



• Omits or confuses small words when reading



• Consistently performs below potential

Related Articles Back-To-School Checklist Is Your Child Ready for School? Top 10 Signs of a Good Kindergarten Classroom Treating Head Lice Learning Disabilities in the School-Aged Child Finding a Good After-School Program Keeping Your Child's School Lunch Safe Chickenpox Vaccine: Should Your Child Get It? Sending Kids to School With Meds Chickenpox Vaccine: Should Your Child Get It?

External Sources American Academy of Pediatrics The American Optometric Association Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.

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