The preparation for the new school year starting in September cannot be done on the eve of the first day of classes. The change of school year, class or school is thought of and organized at the end of the previous school year. The purchase of textbooks is almost mandatory before leaving on vacation, along with the school bag, exercise books and drawing material. And the new wardrobe – because children grow in the meantime and the previous winter’s clothes will no longer fit – is inevitable, once we put aside the beach towels and swimsuits. All this logistics is part of the routine for families with children and, as they grow, parents gain more experience in this task, and everything becomes easier and simpler to accomplish. However, the back-to-school checklist is not complete merely with the enrollment, the purchase of school material and the organization of the necessary winter wardrobe. In fact, something else is required: what about the kids’ health? This could be a good opportunity to check if they are growing properly, if they see and hear well, if vaccines and oral health are up-to-date, and if they are fit for gym at school or any other sport outside the regular school curriculum. Especially in the transition from preschool to primary years, a decisive stage of physical and mental development for children, this health “global checkup” can be a good help to guide parents dealing with this new stage of change. Here is what should be included in the back-to-school health checklist : Pediatrics consultation The health checkup may even come down to this: a consultation with the pediatrician following the child up from birth. No one knows his health better than this specialist. Therefore, it is with the pediatrician that you should clear major doubts, and he will refer the child to other specialists whenever necessary. At specific ages or according to needs. Ophthalmology consultation An ophthalmology consultation is a common indication in the transition for primary school. Do not wait for the teacher’s information that the child is not attentive in class. He might simply have difficulty seeing what is going on at the front. If there are close relatives with vision problems from an early age, that is one more reason to do a vision screening. Before the beginning of the school year, obviously. Otorhinolaryngology consultation The same applies to hearing. A consultation with a pediatric otorhinolaryngologist may help to prevent school problems, in case there is a hearing deficit, no matter how minor. Vaccination up to date Checking if vaccines in the national plan and others possibly indicated by the pediatrician are up to date is also necessary. For everything to be in order before returning to school. However, a reminder in your back-to-school checklist will not hurt. Better safe… Oral health A visit to the dentist is also fundamental. Too many sweets can do damage, which is always better to treat before it gets worse. Plus, it is an excellent opportunity to reinforce the message of the importance of brushing teeth properly. All to keep a good oral health. Fit for sport Another mandatory aspect if you are considering enrolling your children in extracurricular sports activities. Clubs, associations, schools, pools – all these institutions offering the opportunity to practice sport need to be sure that children are fit to do so. Once again, discuss it with the pediatrician following the child. He will know what is required in each case. The start of a new school year does not have to become a moment of anxiety and stress for the family. And the clinical teams of Hospital da Luz are available to offer the consultations required to fulfill this basic checklist . However, if that is the indication of the pediatrician, there are also other specialties with differentiated pediatric valences for less common situations at Hospital da Luz. Meet the pediatrics clinical team from Hospital da Luz network. The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item.
