Make Sure Your Kids Are Back To School Health Ready

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Kids don’t want to hear it but school is starting in just a few weeks. That means time is running out for parents to get their kids to the doctor for physical exams and shots.

Parents may wonder why they have to schedule an appointment every year to get their child looked at. But an Essentia doctor tells us why it is necessary.

Although an annual physical is not required unless your child is playing a sport, doctors highly encourage it.

One of the main reasons why is to check vision.

“It’s important for children to have an eye exam by their primary practitioner or the school screenings at least once a year,” says Essentia Ophthalmologist Michelle Atchison.

Around 80 percent of a child’s learning is done through his or her eyes. And as kids progress in school, visual demand gets higher.

“If children have nearsightedness or farsightedness that’s not recognized they can have trouble with learning if they’re not seeing the board at school and or reading well because of vision problems,” Atchison says.

It can also play a large role in sports, which is one of the reasons a sports physical is mandatory.

And although getting this exam every year may seem redundant, it’s necessary because…

“As children are growing, their eyes are growing too. So it’s possible that a child will pass a vision screening one year and then fail the next year,” says Atchison.

There are signs parents can look for to know if their child might need glasses.

“If a child is squinting when trying to read or look at far distances or closing one eye to read things, that’s a red flag,” Atchison says.

In addition to a vision test, parents need to have their child vaccinated.

Depending on your child’s age, some of the shots required are tetanus, IPV, measles, chickenpox, and Hepatitis A. A chart can be found at NDHealth.gov.

Essentia is offering sports physicals with no appointment necessary starting this week.

Essentia Health – West Fargo Clinic
1401 13th Ave. E.
Tuesday, August 4 from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Thursday, August 6 from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Tuesday, August 11 from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Thursday, August 13 from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Essentia Health – Moorhead Clinic
801 Belsly Boulevard
Wednesday, August 5 from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Wednesday, August 13 from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.