Back to School: The Forgotten Checklist

The 2016-2017 school year is right at our doorstep, and we know that schools across Polk County are preparing to open their doors to the fresh faces of students ready for the new term.  Teachers are posting checklists of everything needed for their classrooms, parents are pulling checklists of everything they need to purchase for their student(s), and kids are checking off how many days of summer they have left.  However, there is one checklist often forgotten by parents before the school year begins.

It’s the checklist for your child’s health.

Starting back to school not only requires certain measures (like immunization records) but it also complicates your daily schedule, making it much harder to fit in needed appointments for your child.  So, here is our basic checklist of things to look over before your child boards that bus or leaves your car on the first big day.

1. Go to, or schedule, a well-care checkup for your child if you haven’t already done so.  This visit covers basic checks on hearing, vision, weight, height, and developmental milestones, and can alert you to any potential problems early, meaning that helpful school intervention can be employed as soon as possible.  These visits are also when your child will receive any needed vaccinations for the year.  Oftentimes, you will be asked if you need a form to turn into your child’s daycare/school, but if they don’t ask, make sure you request one.  If you choose not to have your child vaccinated, there will usually be some type of waiver for you to sign at the beginning of the school year.  Talk to your child’s individual school office and/or administrator if you have questions about this.
2. Have an annual dental exam and cleaning.  Dentist appointments can be hard to fit into a busy school day with homework, extracurricular activities, and carpool lines.  If you manage to fit in an appointment before the school year begins, you won’t have to worry about scheduling a visit amidst school activities unless a dental issue arises.
3. Look into any extracurricular activities or school programs that require physicals.  Sometimes these programs will accept the routine well-care visit, as long as you have proof of some sort (like a form from your doctor) but sometimes they require their own physical.  It’s worth finding out if you need to schedule a specific physical before your schedule gets crunched with school.
4. If your child has any vision weakness, or has been referred for an eye exam after a well-care physical, schedule an eye exam before the start of the school year.  Poor vision can leave many children struggling in the classroom, and can sometimes have them mis-labeled as having a learning disability when in reality, they just can’t see the teacher, board, etc.  If your child already wears glasses or contacts, have their vision checked and any prescriptions updated so they are ready to face the school year head-on.

By making sure your child’s health makes the top of your priority list, you are setting them up for success in the coming school year.  Ensure that you can provide the healthcare they need by making sure you are covered by adequate insurance.  For families throughout the greater Winter Haven area, Carroll Marshall Insurance can offer help in customizing a plan to include the health, dental, and vision coverage you and your family need, while staying within your budget.

Let’s all work together to make this school year the very best it can be for our teachers, students, and families!