The Importance of Annual Well-Child Visits
Annual well-child appointments are recommended for children beginning at three years of age. During the appointment, the provider will review your child's physical and emotional development, and offer guidance on or administer immunizations. They also provide you the opportunity to address any health concerns, ask questions, and take some time to focus on the health of your child with a trusted professional. An added plus to scheduling annual well-child with your child's provider is you can also have them fill out any required physical forms for your student's planned activities for the school year.
The Benefits of Well-Child Visits:
Prevention. Your child gets scheduled immunizations to prevent illness. You also can ask your pediatrician about nutrition and safety in the home and at school.
Tracking growth and development. See how much your child has grown in the time since your last visit, and talk with your provider about your child's development. You can discuss your child's milestones, social behaviors and learning.
Raising concerns. Make a list of topics you want to talk about with your child's pediatrician such as development, behavior, sleep, eating or getting along with other family members. Bring your top three to five questions or concerns with you to talk with your pediatrician at the start of the visit.
Team approach. Regular visits create strong, trustworthy relationships among child, parent and healthcare provider. The providers at Memorial Hospital of Converse County recommend well-child appointments as a way for providers and parents to serve the needs of children. This team approach helps develop the optimal physical, mental and social health of a child.