School bags packed. New shoes bought. Stationery organised. The back-to-school season is one of the busiest times of year for families — and one of the most exciting. But amidst all the preparation, there is one item that too often gets pushed to the bottom of the list or skipped entirely: the pre-school medical check-up.

As a family doctor with more than twenty years of experience, I can tell you that this appointment matters more than most parents realise. Not just for ticking a box on a school form — but because a new school year is the perfect time to ensure your child is healthy, growing well, and ready to learn. A back-to-school medical examination can identify health concerns early and help children perform their best academically, physically, and socially.

I see it every August: parents rushing in at the last minute to get a form signed. What I wish I could tell every one of them is — please come earlier, and please come prepared to have a real conversation. Because this visit can do so much more than sign a piece of paper.

Benefits of a Back-to-School Check-Up

Let me walk you through what a proper pre-school medical examination actually covers — and why each part matters for your child:

Ensures your child is healthy and ready for school
At this visit, we review overall health and development and identify medical concerns before they affect learning. Research consistently shows that children's health status directly affects their ability to concentrate, attend school regularly, and keep up with their peers academically. Think of it as a full systems check before the school year begins.
Checks growth and development
We measure height, weight, and Body Mass Index (BMI) and monitor normal physical development by plotting these on growth charts. A child who is growing too slowly or gaining weight too rapidly may have an underlying issue that needs to be addressed — and the earlier we catch it, the easier it is to manage. Annual well-child visits are the backbone of this kind of long-term developmental monitoring.
Reviews immunizations
We ensure vaccines are up to date according to the national immunization schedule, protecting your child and their classmates from preventable diseases. Research has shown that routine childhood vaccinations protect children from up to 14 vaccine-preventable diseases and avert millions of cases of illness each year. Schools are environments where children are in close contact for hours every day — a vaccination gap puts not just your child, but the whole classroom, at risk.
Vision and hearing screening
We check for problems that may affect reading, learning, and classroom performance. Children cannot always tell you that they cannot see the board or that words sound muffled. They just struggle — and adults often misattribute that struggle to behaviour problems or inattention. Studies confirm that undetected vision or hearing impairment is one of the most common — and most correctable — causes of poor school performance. Catching these problems before the school year starts means your child walks into the classroom ready to absorb everything being taught.
Manages chronic medical conditions
Children living with ongoing health conditions need special attention before a new school year begins. At this visit, we review and update management plans for:
  • Asthma
  • Diabetes
  • Allergies
  • Epilepsy
  • Sickle cell disease
  • ADHD and other ongoing health conditions
1 in 10
children in the United States has received an ADHD diagnosis, and prevalence has been rising. If your child is struggling to sit still, focus, or complete tasks at school, please bring this up at the check-up. Early identification and appropriate management can change the course of a child's entire school career.
Sports and physical activity clearance
We determine whether your child is fit to participate safely in sports and extracurricular activities. This is not just a formality. We check the heart, lungs, musculoskeletal system and overall fitness level. For children who want to play competitive sports, this clearance protects them from doing harm to themselves without knowing it.
Promotes healthy habits
The check-up is also a chance to talk about the lifestyle habits that support learning and wellbeing throughout the school year:
  • Nutrition — what your child eats directly affects their energy, concentration, and mood
  • Physical activity — regular movement supports brain development and reduces anxiety
  • Adequate sleep — children aged 6–12 typically need 9–12 hours per night; teens need 8–10
  • Mental well-being — anxiety and depression in children are far more common than most parents expect
  • Screen time guidance — helping families set healthy limits before the school year builds good habits from day one

A healthy child learns better, plays better,
and thrives in school.

— Dr. Stacie Bevans-Laing

Mind matters too. The mental health piece parents often miss

The American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends annual screening for anxiety in children aged 8 and above, and for depression in adolescents. Approximately 1 in 5 children experiences a mental, emotional, or behavioural health problem each year — and most go unidentified. The back-to-school visit is one of the best opportunities we have to check in on how your child is really doing — not just physically, but emotionally.

When Should You Schedule a Check-Up?

Ideally 2–6 weeks before school starts. This is not an arbitrary window — it gives us enough time to:

Update vaccinations

Some vaccines require more than one dose, and the doses need to be spaced apart. Leaving this to the last minute means your child may start school with incomplete coverage.

Complete school medical forms

We need time to fill these in properly and thoroughly — not in a rush on the last day of August.

Arrange referrals if needed

If your child needs to see an eye specialist, audiologist, or another healthcare provider, early booking gives time for those appointments before school begins.

Start treatment before classes begin

Whether it's new glasses, a revised asthma plan, or a new medication, your child deserves to walk into the first day of school already supported — not still waiting.

Don't Forget to Bring

To make the most of the appointment, please come prepared. Bring:

Your Back-to-School Appointment Checklist

This Visit Is About More Than a Signature

I want to say this directly: the back-to-school medical check-up is not just a form-signing exercise. It is one of the most valuable preventive health tools we have for children.

In my years of practice, I have found conditions at these visits that families had no idea were present — early-stage anaemia in a child who was just "tired all the time," undiagnosed shortsightedness in a child who was "not interested in reading," asthma that had been chalked up to "getting out of breath easily." These are not rare exceptions. These are the kinds of things that a proper examination, done properly and on time, is designed to catch.

Annual well-child visits have been shown to be vital for preventive care — empowering families to make informed decisions for their children's growth and development, and providing the structured opportunity to identify medical concerns during critical developmental periods.

A healthy child learns better, plays better, and thrives in school. Give your child the best start this school year.

Dr. Stacie Bevans-Laing, Family Medicine Physician
About the Author
Dr. Stacie Bevans-Laing
MD  ·  Family Medicine Specialist  ·  Freeport, Grand Bahama

Dr. Stacie Bevans-Laing is a Family Medicine Specialist in the practice of Medicine for 20 years. Having worked in Pediatrics previously for 6 years, she is very passionate about child and adolescent healthcare. She is the founder of First Choice Family Health Center in Freeport, Grand Bahama, where she provides comprehensive, compassionate care for patients at every stage of life.

Family Medicine Child Health Pediatrics Preventive Care Grand Bahama

References

The following peer-reviewed sources, independently verified on PubMed, informed this article. All references meet current evidence-based standards.

  1. Okobi, O. E., Akahara, P. F., Nwachukwu, O. B., Egbuchua, T. O., Ajayi, O. O., Oranu, K. P., & Ibanga, I. U. (2023). Analyzing best practices for pediatric well-child clinic visits in the United States for children aged three to five years: A review. Cureus, 15(9), e45194. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.45194
  2. Talbird, S. E., Carrico, J., La, E. M., Carias, C., Marshall, G. S., Roberts, C. S., Chen, Y.-T., & Nyaku, M. K. (2022). Impact of routine childhood immunization in reducing vaccine-preventable diseases in the United States. Pediatrics, 150(3), e2021056013. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2021-056013
  3. Collins, O. F., Nivé, G., & Verbeke, I. (2023). Pediatric and school-age vision screening in the United States: Rationale, components, and future directions. Children, 10(3), 490. https://doi.org/10.3390/children10030490
  4. Danielson, M. L., Claussen, A. H., Bitsko, R. H., Katz, S. M., Newsome, K., Blumberg, S. J., & Ghandour, R. M. (2024). ADHD prevalence among U.S. children and adolescents in 2022: Diagnosis, severity, co-occurring disorders, and treatment. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 53(3), 343–360. https://doi.org/10.1080/15374416.2024.2335625
  5. Committee on Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family Health, American Academy of Pediatrics. (2025). Promoting optimal development: Screening for mental health, emotional, and behavioural problems. Pediatrics, 156(3), e2025073172. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2025-073172
Medical Disclaimer: This blog is written for general educational purposes and reflects the personal views of Dr. Stacie Bevans-Laing. It is not a substitute for personalised medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your own physician or healthcare provider regarding your individual or your child's health needs.
Back to top