U.S. health officials urge well‑child visits before school start

Doctors across the United States are urging families to schedule annual well‑child examinations as the new school year approaches. The visits are meant to confirm immunizations, monitor growth, and screen for mental‑health concerns, especially since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that about one in five children aged 3‑17 has a diagnosable mental, emotional or behavioral disorder.

Pediatric specialist Dr. Yolanda Evans of Seattle Children’s Hospital and UnitedHealthcare chief medical officer Dr. Rhonda Randall stress that early detection of physical or emotional issues allows timely support before school begins. In New York, mental‑health advocate James Norton promotes a "10 Questions Tuesday" practice to help parents discuss feelings with their children. Experts also recommend dental, vision and comprehensive eye exams, noting that over 600,000 U.S. children experience vision loss.

The combined emphasis is on partnering with schools, addressing technology‑related stress, and using the well‑child visit as a chance to reinforce healthy lifestyle habits for children returning to the classroom.