KEY TAKEAWAYS:
• Annual wellness exams are more than checkups. These visits help your child’s provider track development over time and give the opportunity for families to raise concerns or ask questions.
• Sports physicals are best when done early. Schedule your child’s physical six to eight weeks before the season starts so there’s enough time for follow ups if needed.
• Sleep needs vary by age, with teens typically needing eight to ten hours and children needing ten to twelve hours for full function.
• The blue light from screens can affect sleep. Turn off devices 30 to 60 minutes before bed for a consistent routine.
• When the whole household winds down at night together bedtie routines are more consistent and successful.
SUMMARY:
Back-to-school season brings more than new schedules and supplies. Annual wellness exams, sports physicals, vaccines, sleep routines and screen habits are all important factors to a child’s health. OhioHealth family medicine physician Dr. Ashley Cremona-Simmons shares guidance for families navigating the fall transition this year.
Back-to-school season brings many moving pieces: new schedules, new teachers and a long to-do list. Amid the backpacks and school supplies, it is easy to overlook one important item: your child’s 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.
Why Yearly Wellness Exams Matter
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 visits are also a good time to raise concerns that go beyond physical health. If your family is navigating other stressors, such as financial strain or food insecurity, your provider can connect you with resources. “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.”
How to Help Your Child Feel Comfortable at the Doctor
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.
Sports Physicals: What Families Need to Know
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, the format of the exam is similar, but your provider may offer guidance on sports or activities that are a good fit.
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.
Childhood Vaccines: What to Expect and Why They Matter
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
Vaccines are rigorously tested for safety before approval, and it is normal to have questions. If the news cycle is causing more concern, Dr. Cremona-Simmons shares, “Parents should know that the science has not changed. The immunizations we recommend are backed by decades of research and, as stated by the American Academy of Pediatrics, protect kids from diseases when their immune systems respond best. It is OK to have questions, and your doctor is here to help answer them.”
Common side effects, like mild fever, soreness or redness at the injection site, are signs that the immune system is responding—not a sign that the vaccine caused an illness. Dr. Cremona-Simmons assures that the vaccines train the immune system by preparing the body to fight off infection without causing the disease itself. And nope, vaccines don’t make you sick; they’re more like training for the immune system.
3. Measles: Why Staying Up to Date Matters
Measles is one of the most contagious diseases in the world. It can lead to serious complications, including pneumonia, brain inflammation (encephalitis), long-term disability and, in rare cases, death. The recommendation from pediatric experts has remained consistent: vaccination is the safest and most effective way to prevent infection. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), widespread use of the measles vaccine has reduced measles cases in the United States by more than 99%. Measles activity has increased in recent years, with outbreaks occurring in communities where vaccination rates have declined.
The best protection against measles is the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. The AAP recommends two doses, with the first given at 12 to 15 months and the second at 4 to 6 years of age. One dose is about 93% effective at preventing measles, while two doses are about 97% effective. In certain situations, such as travel or local outbreaks, providers may recommend earlier vaccination. If you have questions about your child’s vaccine schedule or what recommendations apply to your family, talk with your pediatrician or family physician.
4. Tackling Specific Vaccines: HPV and Flu Shots
A few specific vaccines might have you scratching your head. For the flu shot, it’s 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 catch the bug.
The HPV vaccine is one of the few vaccines that directly prevents certain cancers. It can be started as early as age 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 in men,” says Dr. Cremona-Simmons.
5. Catching Up on Missed Vaccines
Missing a vaccine appointment happens, and it doesn’t mean starting over. Your child’s provider can review their vaccine history and recommend a catch-up schedule.
Staying up to date on vaccines is one of the most effective ways families can protect their children and their communities. If you have questions about your child’s vaccine schedule, talk to your provider about where to start.
How Much Sleep Do Children Need?
Sleep needs vary by age, and getting the right amount makes a difference in how children feel and function. Dr. Cremona-Simmons breaks it down: for our teens, it’s about eight to ten hours. For younger children, aim for ten to twelve hours. Quality sleep is all about growth, development, and helping your children be their best.
“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.”
Building a Bedtime Routine That Works
Consistency is one of the most effective tools for a successful bedtime routine. Dr. Cremona-Simmons suggests using timers to signal bedtime and rituals, such as a bath and a bedtime story, to set the mood. Adjust the household to this routine by dimming the lights to create a calm 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 Before Bed
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.
Modeling healthy screen habits is one of the most practical things caregivers can do. When everyone in the household follows the same boundaries, routines are easier to establish and maintain.
As the school year starts again, small, consistent habits around health, sleep and screen time can make a meaningful difference for children and families alike. Cheers to a great school year ahead! 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a sports physical different from a regular wellness exam?
Yes. A wellness exam covers overall health and development. A sports physical focuses on if your child is ready to safely participate in athletics.
What if my child has missed some vaccines?
Missing a vaccine doesn’t mean starting over. Your child’s provider can assess vaccine history and create a plan to catch up.
How can I help my child feel less anxious about doctor visits?
Let your child know ahead of time what to expect at their appointment. Use straightforward language like “immunization” rather than “shot”, and encourage your child to ask their own questions during the visit.
What age should children start getting the HPV vaccine?
The HPV vaccine can be started as early as age nine.
How do I know if my child is getting enough sleep?
General sleep guidelines suggest eight to ten hours of sleep for teens and ten to twelve hours for children. Signs that a child may not be getting enough sleep include difficulty waking up, trouble focusing and mood changes.
Does screen time really affect sleep?
Yes. The blue light from electronics can disrupt the body’s natural wind-down process. It is recommended to turn off devices 30 to 60 minutes before bed.
