New York kids may still have plenty of summer vacation ahead but healthcare experts said now is a great time to schedule annual wellness visits to ensure children are ready for school.
Not only do medical checkups ensure kids are on track with immunizations and growth, doctors can get a sense of emotional well-being and offer families resources.
James Norton, government and community affairs manager for the mental health advocacy organization the National Alliance on Mental Illness-New York State, suggested a practice called “10 Questions Tuesday,” a dedicated time for parents to learn what is really on a child’s mind.
“Do you feel like you have too many responsibilities? What’s something new that you really enjoy? Those kind of questions can help bring up the conversation to a point where it’s about feelings, not just about explaining the events of the day,” Norton explained.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in five children ages 3-17 has a diagnosable mental, emotional or behavioral disorder. Norton pointed out transitioning back to school can be tough for some kids, so it is important for parents to show it is OK to talk about mental health.
Despite the warm weather, some kids may be spending summer hours online, staring at a screen. Research directly links social media with anxiety and depression in teenagers and shows high engagement with artificial intelligence also harms emotional health. Wellness checks are a great way to reboot behavior.
Dr. Rhonda Randall, chief medical officer for UnitedHealthcare Employer and Individual, said conversations with a doctor about mood, sleep and friends can help.
“This is a really good time to also discuss healthy lifestyle habits with your child and thinking about what you’re modeling in your family. Healthy eating habits, physical activity. So important when we’re now very technology forward,” Randal outlined.
Randal advised not to forget dental or vision exams before school starts to help ensure kids are ready to learn. More than 600,000 children and teens in the U.S. suffer from some form of vision loss. Randal added school-based screenings are important but an annual comprehensive eye exam can detect more complex issues at hand.
