It’s that time of year again! Back-to-school is in full swing, for kids from preschool to college. Each grade presents its unique challenges, and as parents, we want the best for our children. But beyond new notebooks and pencils, have you considered their physical health?
We spoke with Ashley Cremona-Simmons, DO, an OhioHealth family medicine physician, about the importance of back-to-school physicals, sports physicals, bedtime routines and managing screens.
The Importance of Yearly Wellness Exams for Children
Dr. Cremona-Simmons emphasized that while we often associate doctor visits with sickness, wellness exams or physicals are just as crucial.
“I think first, when we associate going to the doctor’s, it’s usually when we have an issue when we’re sick, right. And that doesn’t necessarily change with the kiddos”, says Dr. Cremona-Simmons. “But these wellness exams or physicals, as we call them, are just as equally important. This is an ability for you to longitudinally get to know your physician, and for your physician to get to know your child.”
During these exams:
- Doctors listen to the child’s heart and lungs.
- They check for appropriate growth and vital signs.
- Age-specific questions about a child’s development ensure they’re on track.
Dr. Cremona-Simmons says wellness exams can also open the door for parents to discuss broader family concerns, such as financial strains or food insecurities. “So if you have concerns, if you know you’re having trouble with finances, food insecurity, those are things that you can bring up to your physician and get resources for your family.”
Making Physicals Less Daunting
While many kids may not have an outright phobia of doctors, the uncertainty surrounding what happens during a visit can cause anxiety. So, how can we prepare our children for these physicals?
Preparation is Key:
- Always let children know in advance about the physical.
- Use neutral language, like ‘immunization’ instead of ‘shot’, to prevent instilling fear.
- Depending on a child’s age, engage them in a conversation about their concerns and explain the importance of the exam.
Building Trust with the Physician:
Regular annual visits mean your doctor and child will develop a familiarity with each other over the years. This long-term relationship can make a significant difference. “I remember my pediatrician… he knew things that were important to me”, says Dr. Cremona-Simmons. “And it was a joy for me to go see my doctor. And I think if you’re going regularly, your child will be able to develop that relationship with their physician as well.”
Such interactions can turn these annual exams into positive experiences for our kids.
Diving into Sports Physicals
With the start of school comes the fall sports season, too. You might be questioning the need for specialized sports physicals. Here’s a breakdown:
1. Convenience in Combining Physicals
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests scheduling sports physicals alongside wellness exams. This combination lightens the load for parents, ensuring comprehensive checks are performed in one go. Plus, the sports exam includes a pre-participation form to pinpoint any potential health concerns that might affect an athlete’s performance or safety.
2. Addressing Unique Needs
Sports physicals also look into issues that might be unique to athletes, such as the female athlete triad, which revolves around menstrual irregularities, low energy and bone concerns. For children with disabilities, while the format remains consistent, there might be recommendations on sports or activities that best suit their abilities.
3. Timing Matters
If your child is gearing up for a sports season, Dr. Cremona-Simmons suggests aiming for their sports physical about 6-8 weeks in advance. “The reason I say that is because that will give you time, if you need to do more workup or refer to a specialist for that to happen.” This timeframe allows any potential concerns to be thoroughly investigated, ensuring that your child can participate safely before the sports season begins.
The Lowdown on Immunizations: Why, When, and What You Need to Know
When we’re talking childhood health, vaccines are kind of a big deal. Between the many types of vaccines and those age-specific guidelines, it might feel a bit much. But don’t fret! Let’s break down the whole vaccination journey together.
1. The Essential Role of Immunizations
Navigating vaccines can be a maze, right? Dr. Cremona-Simmons says by the time a kiddo hits school, if you’ve had them vaccinated on schedule, they’re geared up to resist almost 15 diseases, including some major ones like measles, mumps, rubella, and chickenpox.
“What immunizations do is it helps us to protect our most vulnerable populations – people older or people that might be immunocompromised”, says Dr. Cremona-Simmons. “Being able to get that concept of herd immunity when you have a certain number of persons vaccinated, it protects the rest of the community.”
2. Vaccine Safety & Common Side Effects
In our COVID-aware era, there’s been some vaccine side-eye. Dr. Cremona-Simmons is on it, assuring us about vaccine safety. She says there are common side effects – like mild fever, pain or redness at the injection site – all these show our body’s getting ready to fight off future baddies. And nope, vaccines don’t make you sick; they’re more like training for the immune system.
3. Tackling Specific Vaccines: HPV and Flu Shots
A couple of specific vaccines might have you scratching your head. For the flu shot, it’s a thumbs up for everyone six months and up every year. Because the flu can be unpredictable. Dr. Cremona-Simmons says you never know if your case will be mild or require hospitalizations. The flu vaccine could help lessen the severity if you do catch the bug.
And the HPV vaccine? It’s a big player in preventing certain cancers. Kids can start this one at nine. “What is amazing about this vaccine is that we have a vaccine that can prevent cancer. So it can cause cervical cancer in women, and it can cause penile cancer, and men”, says Dr. Cremona-Simmons.
4. Catching Up on Missed Vaccines
Ever missed a vaccine appointment? We get it – life happens! But missing a dose isn’t a deal-breaker. Docs have ways to get kids back on track with their vaccines.
So here’s the takeaway: Vaccines are superhero capes for our little ones. And by getting them, we’re setting our kids and communities up for a healthier tomorrow.
The Real Talk on Sleep Schedules and Screen Time
While you’re shifting from summer fun to school mode, sleep and screen time will most likely need some serious adjustments.
How Much Sleep Do Children Need?
How much zzz’s do kids need? Dr. Cremona-Simmons breaks it down: for our teens, it’s about eight to ten hours. The littles? Think ten to twelve hours. Quality sleep doesn’t just mean fewer yawns in class. It’s all about growth, development, and being on their A-game.
“If you think about it, if you don’t get restful, restorative sleep, how do you feel during the day? It’s the same thing for our kiddos”, says Dr. Cremona-Simmons. “Having them in a good bedtime routine, and making sure that they’re getting the either the 10 to 12, or eight to 10 hours, depending on their age is really important. Their ability to have restorative sleep enables them to focus in school, which enables better performance. And it’s also crucial to the development. That sleep period is necessary for kids to grow and to learn.”
Tips for Developing a Nighttime Routine
Looking for bedtime routine tips? Consistency is key. Dr. Cremona-Simmons is all for timers that signal bedtime, and rituals like bath and storytime to set the mood. But hey, the whole house has got to be in the bedtime vibe – think dim lights and a calming atmosphere.
“7:30pm is my son’s bedtime”, Dr. Cremona-Simmons shares. “Whether he’s watching a TV show, or he’s playing outside, he has this concept of a timer. So about 10 minutes before 7:30pm, I’ll put on a timer. He knows when that timer goes off, that’s a signal that now it’s time for me to power down. I think the biggest thing, especially with younger children, is the whole house has to be powering down.”
Managing Screen Time
About that screen time, how do you get the kiddos to press that power button? Here are some golden rules from Dr. Cremona-Simmons:
- No TVs in bedrooms. Out of sight, out of mind, right?
- Charge those gadgets outside the bedroom. No midnight scrolling!
- Switch off devices a good 30-60 minutes before bedtime. That blue light? Not our friend when we’re trying to wind down.
Parents, let’s lead by example, set some screen boundaries, and stick to them. Our kids will thank us!
Big shout-out to *Dr. Ashley Cremona-Simmons* for all these insights that’ll help with the back-to-school shuffle. If you’d like to hear our chat with Dr. Cremona-Simmons, check out the Back to School episode of “The Wellness Conversation”, an OhioHealth Podcast.
As we wave goodbye to summer and hello to school routines, remember: healthy habits, good sleep and mindful screen time can make a world of difference for our kiddos’ well-being and success. Cheers to a great school year ahead!
