Between trips to the store for school supplies and new clothing, your child may also require a trip to a pediatrician in Phoenix for school-mandated shots and vaccines before the school year begins. Preparing your child for the upcoming school year shouldn’t stop here however. Here are some tips to help keep your child happy and healthy throughout the school year:
- Screenings & checkups: In addition to required immunizations, bring your child to a pediatrician in Phoenix to have their eyesight and hearing tested before each school year to ensure they can succeed in their learning environment.
- Sleep: Elementary-school aged children should get an average 10 to 11 hours of sleep a night. Establishing a set bedtime and sticking to it will get your child used to a routine of going to bed on time, ensuring that they are well rested for the next day.
- Diet: Without a fuel source, a child’s body cannot fully develop. A healthy breakfast begins your child’s day right and stimulates metabolism.
- Exercise: Children need 60 minutes of continual exercise daily, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), but gym class and after-school programs may not suffice, only 3% of 15 year olds receiving the recommended amount of exercise daily according to Duke Medicine.
- Safety: Children should not carry over 20% of their body weight to avoid neck and back injuries. Regardless of your child’s normal method of transportation to and from school, make sure children are aware of traffic laws and neighborhood safety.
The experienced pediatricians in Phoenix at Pediatrix are well versed in child wellness, performing necessary examinations and checkups which sustain a child’s health. Affiliate hospitals throughout the valley benefit from the Pediatrix commitment to each of our unique child patients. Visit a pediatrician in Phoenix at Pediatrix today, call us at (602) 866-0550 or contact us online with any comments, questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Subir K. Mitra, MD FAAP
