Physical Exams for Preschool

For some schools, having your 4-year old's physical examination is a prerequisite before they even enter kindergarten. If you're still on vacation mode, you may want to set aside a day for your child's physical examination just so you won't have any problems with the school board during time of enrolment.

There are schools which absolutely require that a physical exam would be administered to the child within six months prior to him or her entering kindergarten. So, we advise you to simply step up and get off that couch off your lawn to prepare for one of the most important visits that your child will ever take this year-a meeting with the family physician.

This time is an excellent opportunity for you to meet up with your pediatrician and ask him or her if there is anything to improve in your child's health, growth or development. It's important that your child should go through the normal battery of tests so that you'll be able to know if your child needs any special attention to his or her health. Should anything that needs special attention be discovered with your child during this checkup, it would be better off seen before the school year starts.

To give you an idea of what types of tests your child will go through, here is a meager list that can serve as your guide:

* A thorough review of his past immunizations and ones that are already due

* Height and weight assessment

* Complete full developmental assessment

* Testing of your child's vision and hearing

* Testing of the child's hemoglobin level

* Check a urine sample

* Thorough physical exam

* The discussion of various safety issues

* To get some advice regarding proper nutrition, adequate sleep, and behavior

You'll be able to procure a physical examination form from your school's clinic or pediatrician so you can fill out the necessary information. Another thing to remember is to always sit your child down and talk to him or her about the physical examination. You should tell them what they should expect so that when the doctor on hand isn't explaining what he or she is doing, your kid knows exactly what's going to happen. So try to book for an appointment as soon as possible so you'll be able to get a look at your child's health as well as inspect whether you need to change something in his or development. Either way, going to the pediatrician is still an excellent idea.