Back-to-School Health Checklist: Setting Your Family Up for Success

The start of a new school year is an exciting time filled with fresh opportunities, new teachers, and busy schedules. It can also be one of the busiest seasons for families. Taking a little time now to prepare can help make the transition smoother and keep your children healthy throughout the school year.

Here are a few items to check off your back-to-school health checklist:

✔ Schedule Annual Wellness Visits

An annual wellness exam is the perfect opportunity to make sure your child is growing and developing as expected, discuss any health concerns, and address questions about nutrition, sleep, or emotional well-being. If your child participates in sports, don't wait until the last minute to schedule a sports physical.

✔ Review Immunizations

Vaccines help protect children, families, and our community from preventable diseases. If you're unsure whether your child is up to date on recommended immunizations, our team can review their records and help you stay on schedule.

✔ Update Medications and Emergency Plans

If your child has asthma, allergies, diabetes, or another chronic health condition, make sure medications are current and that any required school forms are completed before classes begin. It's also a good time to check expiration dates on inhalers, EpiPens®, and other medications.

✔ Establish Healthy Routines

Gradually shifting back to regular bedtimes before school starts can make those early mornings much easier. Aim for a balanced breakfast, encourage daily physical activity, and help children develop healthy habits that support learning and concentration.

✔ Encourage Good Hygiene

As students spend more time together in classrooms, simple habits like washing hands frequently, covering coughs and sneezes, and staying home when sick can help reduce the spread of illness.

✔ Take Care of Mental Health

The start of school brings excitement, but it can also create stress or anxiety for some children. Keep communication open, ask how they're feeling, and remind them it's okay to talk about worries or challenges. If concerns persist, we're here to help.

At Rocky Mountain Family Practice, we're honored to care for families throughout every stage of life. Whether your child needs a wellness visit, sports physical, immunizations, or help managing an ongoing health condition, our team is here to support a healthy and successful school year.

We wish all of our students, teachers, school staff, and families a wonderful start to the new school year!

Claudia Vargas, MA

Practice Manager