While the daily routines of a new school year are in full swing, parents still have plenty to keep in mind when it comes to their child’s health — from physicals and vaccines to sleep routines and emotional well-being.
“It’s important to have your kids examined periodically, even if they’re not sick, because sometimes you catch things before they become a problem,” says Dr. Michelle Faber, MD, a pediatrician with Henry Ford Health in Dearborn. “Back-to-school time is an easy time to think about a reset.”
1. Don’t skip the checkups
“Most schools require a yearly health appraisal,” Faber says, “which basically says your kid is healthy enough to participate in school activities — and includes a vaccine record.”
When to get one? “Anytime,” she says. “The school health appraisal form is good for a year.”
Sports physicals are separate — and only accepted after April 15 for the current school year.
Faber encourages seeing your regular pediatrician when possible. “You’re not going to get the same level of care at an urgent care that you are from your own doctor.”
2. What vaccines Michigan schools require
Michigan schools require these vaccines for entry:
- Hepatitis B: 3 doses required
- DTaP/DTP 4 doses required (with 1 dose at/after age 4)
- Polio 4 doses required (or 3 if final given after age 4)
- MMR: 2 doses at/after 12 months
- Varicella: 2 doses at/after 12 months, or lab immunity or history of disease
- 7th grade and above: 1 dose Tdap (at 11+) and 1 dose meningococcal conjugate (MenACWY)
3. Where to get vaccinated
“You can go to your doctor. You can go to the health department,” Faber says. “If you’ve been getting vaccines in Michigan, your vaccine record should be in the database.
“Older kids can also go to pharmacies,” she adds, with age limits varying by location.
Local health departments in metro Detroit include:
4. Double-check medicines and school forms
If your child has asthma, make sure they have an inhaler at school, Faber says. Likewise for ADHD prescriptions or other crucial medications.
For severe allergies, send an epinephrine auto-injector.
5. Check in on feelings, too
Whining, tantrums or physical complaints like stomachaches can signal something deeper. “Those are common signs of anxiety,” Faber says.
Ways parents can help:
- Hype up school: “Try to hype up the fact that school is fun,” Faber says, while empathizing with their anxiety or struggles.
- Sticker charts: “Especially for younger kids, these are a great way to give some sort of instant gratification and work up to a bigger goal,” like a week of good days at school.
- Stay engaged: Make it a habit to check in daily. Even quick conversations about highs and lows can help kids feel supported and give parents a sense of how things are going.
- Prioritize sleep: Keeping kids on a consistent schedule helps with mood and focus.
If worries or sleep struggles last beyond the first couple weeks, “it’s always appropriate to talk to your doctor,” Faber says.
The bottom line about school-year health
Healthy routines matter year-round — not just at the start of school. As Faber puts it, “There’s never a wrong time to take your kid to the doctor.”
Reporting by Kim Kovelle
This content is sponsored by Henry Ford Health. For related content, visit Top Kids Health Questions Answered!
