Why Annual Physicals are Crucial for your Child's Health

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CLEVELAND - As the new school year begins, it’s a great reminder to schedule your child’s annual physical.

These yearly visits are crucial to keep tabs on a variety of things.

“Annual checkups are about physical health, preventative medicine and mental health. We don't just want to make sure your body is healthy – we want to make sure your mind is healthy, too,” explained Gina Robinson, MD, pediatrician for Cleveland Clinic Children’s.

After their more frequent visits early on, Dr. Robinson said children should keep up with at least one yearly physical starting at age 3.

These regular visits help doctors catch and address anything abnormal early.

Along with doing vision, hearing and other necessary tests – doctors can start talking to kids about things like healthy eating and the importance of sleep.

By having these conversations, Dr. Robinson said children can start developing lifelong healthy habits.

An annual checkup is also a good time for kids to bring up anything on their minds, as well.

“Although kids have a lot of questions, they don't always ask them,” Dr. Robinson said. “But if they come in and see their doctor every year, they can get more comfortable.”

Dr. Robinson added it’s a good idea to have kids write down their questions beforehand – that way, they don’t forget about one during their visit.