You’ve tracked your child’s milestones since they were born. While you’re no longer posting monthly about what they like to eat, how much they weigh, what sounds they make or words they can say, it’s still important to track their health through annual wellness exam visits with your MercyOne health care provider.
Annual wellness exams are a great time for us to talk with kids about how to eat healthy foods, stay active, make sure they’re drinking plenty of fluids and getting the right amount of sleep. These are healthy habits that will benefit them for the rest of their lives.
During an annual wellness exam, parents can expect:
- Physical exam
- Update to immunizations
- Check of growth and development
- Review of medical history
These health exams are also used for your child’s enrollment in school, sports and camps. In Iowa, yearly physicals are required by school districts to help ensure safety for students, especially those participating in sports. Before classes and extracurricular activities begin, this requirement ensures your child receives a physical to make sure there are no underlying health issues that might interfere with participation, check their growth and development and update their immunizations. Most school districts require sports physicals prior to participation in students twelve years (6th grade) and older.
Students who are not in sports also need a yearly physical to monitor their development and overall health and wellness. It is important that your child is knowledgeable in their growth and development, health history, and overall wellbeing. Building a strong relationship with their primary care provider lets your child know that if they do have health questions, they have someone they can trust to talk to.
The advantages of annual wellness exams are more than just the physical well-being of students. It’s a good time to connect with them and make sure they feel connected and engaged outside of just the classroom. How are they feeling about the school year, how they’re interacting with their peers and any screening or anticipatory guidance they may need.
Get your child’s annual wellness exam on your schedule now before your relaxing summer season turns into a crazy fall!
