Parent's Back-to-School List Should Include Health Check-Up for Kids

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Prudential Insurance Company of America

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ROSELAND, N.J., Aug. 6, 1998 -- Every parent's back-to-school list should include more than just pencils and paper. Parents also need to think about well-child exams, immunizations, exercise, and an emphasis on eating right.

"The anticipation and preparation for another school year is exciting but also stressful for parents and children," said Dr. Charles Cutler, vice president, Medical Services, for Prudential HealthCare(SM). "By taking steps to ensure that your children start off healthy, you are well on your way to a happy and successful school year."

Parents should provide psychological support, as well as make sure children receive necessary medical check-ups and immunizations. Dr. Cutler noted that these types of preventive care check-ups and tests may be covered by health plans like the ones offered by Prudential HealthCare. Here are some tips from Dr. Cutler to help make your child's school year a healthier one.

• Talk with your children about their feelings for the upcoming school year. Spend time with your child talking about the upcoming school year
  
  
• any fears, challenges, accomplishments, or projects that they see ahead for themselves. Go over their schedule and discuss study habits so they feel less anxiety and stress over possible workloads.
  
  
• Schedule a well-child exam for children. Check with your primary care doctor on whether your child is due for one. This might include a history and physical examination; height, weight and blood pressure measurements; vision screening; developmental and behavioral assessments; and counseling on child safety, diet and exercise.
  
  
• Find out if your child needs a physical exam. Typically, older children should have a physical exam every other year, unless they have a medical condition or will be participating in organized sports. Schedule physicals well in advance to avoid the Labor Day crunch. Also, check with the school about special forms or requirements for participating in sports and bring these to the attention of your physician.
  
  
• Review immunization records; keep track of visits and shots. While most children should receive their basic immunizations before age two, some diseases like tetanus, measles and hepatitis B require booster shots in later years between the ages 1l and 18. Prudential HealthCare provides parents with tips and helpful guidelines on childhood immunizations available on the Internet at http://www.prudential.com/healthcare. The site includes: a childhood immunization schedule to see when each shot is required; an immunization record to keep track of shots received; and a True/False quiz to test your knowledge.
  
  
• Meet with the school nurse. If your child has a chronic condition like diabetes or asthma, and needs to take medication during school hours, it's important to discuss your child's medical history with the school nurse. Give the nurse contact information for the pediatrician and/or family doctor. Plan a timetable for your child to take their medication and set up a reminder system so they won't forget.
  
  
• Schedule a dental appointment for your child. Get this out of the way before the school year begins to save you the hassle of scheduling it during school hours or around after-school activities or sports.
  
  
• Stress the importance of routine physical activity with your child. Talk about sports they might be interested in during the school year or other ways to stay physically fit like simply joining a health club or gym. Set a good example -- exercise regularly yourself or with your children.
  
  
• Make sure your child eats a balanced diet. A balanced diet consists of breads, cereals, pasta, and low-fat baked goods; fruits and vegetables; dairy foods (milk, cheeses, etc.); lean meats, poultry, fish; and low-fat snacks such as pretzels, graham crackers, animal crackers instead of corn chips or potato chips. Keep healthy foods and snacks around the house. Be a good role model by eating the foods you want your child to eat. Get your child into the routine of eating a well-balanced breakfast, the most important meal of the day.
  
  

Important Note: This material has been developed for your information only and should not take the place of medical advice or consultation with a personal physician. It represents information compiled from a variety of medical and clinical resources.

Prudential HealthCare is a brand name for certain employee benefit products underwritten by The Prudential Insurance Company of America and its subsidiaries, Prudential HealthCare Plan, Inc., Prudential Health Care Plan of California, Inc., Prudential Health Care Plan of Connecticut, Inc., Prudential Health Care Plan of Georgia, Inc., Prudential Health Care Plan of New York, Inc. and for the business unit that administers them. The subsidiaries are solely responsible for their own financial condition and contractual obligations. The Prudential Insurance Company of America, 751 Broad Street, Newark, NJ 07102.

Web Site: http://www.prudential.com/healthcare/

CONTACT: Kevin Heine, Director, Corporate Public Relations of Prudential, 973-802-7455