A pediatrician’s tips for back-to-school checkups

Whether it is your child’s first year in preschool or senior year in high school, it’s important to get their annual wellness visit and school physicals done before the school year begins. A wellness visit can be completed by many types of clinicians, but it is recommended that you go to a pediatrician for a full check-up on your child’s health.^1,2

“I love seeing my patients for their sports physicals and annual visits because it gives me a chance to connect with them and see how their year has been,” said Christina Monteleone, DO, a pediatrician at Optum Medical Care in New York and New Jersey.

It’s important to know that while your pediatrician will be asking questions, you can ask them, too! Here are some questions that parents and kids can ask when they go to their wellness check-up.

1. Where can I read my child’s growth chart?

A growth chart is a predictive chart that can help pediatricians see how your child is changing as they age.³ At Optum,  pediatricians use Epic, an electronic medical record (EMR) system to keep track of your child’s health and doctor’s visits. In there, they include your child’s vaccination records, medical history, and growth chart.

2. How much sleep should my child be getting?

How much sleep a child needs depends on their age. Even for school-age children there are differences. Preschoolers (3–5 years) should get 10–13 hours of sleep, including naps. School-age kids (6–13 years) need 9–12 hours of sleep. Teenagers (14–17 years) will need 8–10 hours of sleep. ⁴ It is important to talk to your pediatrician if your child is not getting the rest they need or struggling to fall or stay asleep or experiencing nightmares.

3. My child is having back to school anxiety, what can I do?

It’s normal to feel some back-to-school anxiety.⁵ If your child is experiencing a lot of anxiety symptoms, like headaches, nausea or dizziness when it is time to leave the house, but not on weekends or days out of school, it may be because of something bigger than going back-to-school. Work with your pediatrician to see if it’s just a new school year that is causing the anxiety or if it could be  medicalcondition or negative situation, like bullying or depression.⁶

4. My child mentioned a mature topic – what is the best way to speak to them about it?

Many topics that adults consider mature, like mental health issues, drugs, bullying or abuse, still affect children. Your pediatrician can help you with age-appropriate ways to talk to your child about these types of topics and more.⁷

5. How can I get school support for my child’s disability?

If your child has a diagnosis of a disability, your pediatrician can help you complete an IEP or 504 form depending on their needs. IEPs are an Individual Education Program subsidized by the federal government for students who require special education services  or an adjustment to the curriculum based on their disability, like a reading intervention or time in the day for a speech-language service, to make sure they can receive the same quality of education in the least restricted environment possible by the school. A student with an IEP will have outlined education plans based on four categories: academic achievement, functional performance and learning characteristics; social development; physical development; and management needs.⁸ These students may also have a 504 plan to discuss their needed classroom accommodations.

504 Plans outline what accommodations a student needs for general education learning, like preferred seating or testing accommodations. Students do not need an IEP to have a 504 accommodation plan, as their disability may not be covered by an IEP.⁹ Both require a diagnosis before being granted, so it is important to ask your child’s pediatrician about next steps if you or another adult in your child’s life notices symptoms of a disability or chronic condition. ^10,11

Trust and communication with your pediatrician are essential to ensuring your child can go back to school as healthy and prepared as possible.¹²

“My favorite part about being a pediatrician is the relationships I build with patients and their families,” said Dr. Monteleone. “I love watching them grow and supporting them in their physical and mental health journeys year after year.”

Christina Monteleone, DO is a pediatrician at Optum Medical Care serving the New York and New Jersey regions. She provides care for children of all ages and is currently seeing pediatric patients in Great Neck, NY.

Sources:

1. HealthyChildren.org. American Academy of Pediatrics. AAP Schedule of Well-Child Care Visits. Last updated July 22, 2025. Accessed July 25, 2025.
2. HealthyChildren.org. American Academy of Pediatrics. Back to School, Back to the Doctor. Last updated June 26, 2019. Accessed July 25, 2025.
3. HealthyChildren.org. American Academy of Pediatrics. How to Read a Growth Chart: Percentiles Explained. Last updated   September 1, 2015. Accessed July 25, 2025.
4. KidsHealth. Kids and Sleep.  Last updated January 2021. Accessed July 25, 2025.
5. HealthyChildren.org. American Academy of Pediatrics. School Avoidance: Tips for Concerned Parents. Last updated September 26, 2024. Accessed July 25, 2025.
6. HealthyChildren.org. American Academy of Pediatrics. 5 Ways to Help Your Kids Have a Healthy School Year. Last updated July 23, 2024. Accessed July 25, 2025.
7. HealthyChildren.org. American Academy of Pediatrics. How to Talk With Kids About Tragedies & Other Traumatic News Events. Last updated December 16, 2024. Accessed July 25, 2025.
8. New York State Education Department. Individualized Education Program (IEP) Form. Accessed July 25, 2025.
9. National Center for Learning Disabilities. IEPs vs. 504 Plans. Last updated January 6, 2024. Accessed July 25, 2025.
10. HealthyChildren.org. American Academy of Pediatrics. IEPs and 504 Plans: A Guide for Parents. Last updated February 24, 2023. Accessed July 25, 2025.
11. Concerned about Development? How to Get Help for Your Child. Accessed July 25, 2025.
12. HealthyChildren.org. American Academy of Pediatrics Back to school, back to the doctor. Last updated June 19, 2019. Accessed July 25, 2025.