Let me tell you something I did last week that made me feel like I had my life together for once…
I took my son in for his physical and I walked out of that appointment feeling like a full-on WINNER
Why? Because I got it DONE early.
And if you're a busy mom like me, you already know… that is a BIG deal.
The Reality of Fall (It Sneaks Up FAST)
Every single year, I tell myself I'm going to stay ahead of things.
And every single year… fall shows up out of nowhere.
Suddenly it's:
- Back-to-school everything
- Sports registrations
- New schedules
- Paperwork, forms, appointments…
And somehow it all lands on the same week
That's exactly why this time I said, nope, not doing that again.
Instead of waiting until August chaos, I took care of the physical in the spring and let me tell you… it feels SO
good to already have that checked off my list.
Why This Matters More Than You Think
If you have kids, you already know how many things require a well-child exam:
- Starting kindergarten
- Moving up to middle or high school
- Transferring to a new school
- Signing up for fall sports
And the worst part?
Everyone waits until the last minute… which means appointments get booked up FAST.
That's when the stress kicks in trying to find availability, rearranging schedules, rushing around…
No thank you
Do Your Future Self a Favor
I'm telling you this is your sign
If you know you're going to need that appointment anyway, just go ahead and schedule it now.
Future-you (the one juggling school drop-offs, practices, and everything else) is going to be SO thankful you
didn't leave this for later.
There is something about checking off a big task early that just gives you that
"okay… I've got this" feeling
And honestly, we take those wins whenever we can.
One Less Thing to Worry About
As moms, we carry so much in our heads all the time.
Anything we can take off that mental load ahead of time? Worth it.
This is one of those simple things that makes a HUGE difference later.
So go ahead schedule the appointment, check it off your list, and enjoy a smoother, less stressful fall
A Little Tip for Local Parents
If you're in the Charlotte area, I have to mention this Atrium Health has some of the best providers, with super
convenient locations all around the area and plenty of options
(which we definitely need as busy parents!).
It makes scheduling so much easier when you actually have choices that fit your family's schedule
If you've been putting this off… consider this your friendly nudge
Here is the list of providers for you to check 💙
💬 Your Questions Answered: Well-Child Visits & Pediatric Health
We recently asked our community what questions you have about routine checkups, physicals, and childhood development. We took your submissions straight to the experts!
Below are the answers provided directly by Paige Olsen, MD | Pediatrics | Atrium Health.
Q: Why is a well-child visit important even when my child isn't sick?
Dr. Olsen: A well-child visit is important even when a child is not sick because it focuses on overall health, growth, and development rather than illness alone. These visits allow us to monitor developmental milestones and quickly identify any concerns early. Well-being includes preventive care and open discussions about changes in nutrition, development, bladder and bowel habits, sleep patterns, and healthy lifestyle modifications. This time is also used to talk about what parents can expect before the next visit and how their child may change as they grow. In addition, well-child visits provide an opportunity to review age-appropriate safety tips for both parents and children, including risks they may not think about day to day such as injury prevention, home and car safety, and risk awareness as children grow more independent. Overall, these visits help ensure a child is developing appropriately, staying healthy, and supported as they grow.
Q: What is the difference between tracking physical growth vs. tracking developmental milestones?
Dr. Olsen: Tracking physical growth and tracking developmental milestones are both essential for a child's overall development, but they measure different aspects of health. Physical growth focuses on height and weight and ensures a child is following their expected growth curves over time. This helps us determine whether a child is getting too few or too many calories for their age and size, which is especially important because nutritional needs change rapidly in the first few years of life. Monitoring height also allows us to confirm that children are growing as expected, and if growth is too slow or unusually rapid, early investigation can take place. Developmental milestone tracking, which is especially important in the first five years of life, focuses on skills such as motor abilities, language, social interaction, and problem-solving. These milestones act as evidence-based targets, reflecting what the majority of children should be doing at certain ages. When a child is not meeting multiple milestones, it gives us the opportunity to perform early assessments and provide timely interventions to help set them up for success alongside their peers. Milestones are also useful for families, as they help set expectations for what is coming next and provide clear goals to work toward as a child grows.
Q: Are there common health issues that are only caught during a routine physical?
Dr. Olsen: Some common health issues are often identified only during routine physicals because they may not cause obvious symptoms at home. Vision or hearing problems are frequently caught through yearly screening, as children may not realize their vision or hearing is impaired, and parents may not notice subtle changes. Speech delays, fine motor delays, or gross motor delays are often identified through standardized questionnaires and targeted questions during visits, which can lead to early referral to speech, occupational, or physical therapy. Routine exams can also uncover issues such as abnormal head shape (plagiocephaly), heart murmurs, elevated body mass index or growth faltering, anemia, high blood pressure or elevated cholesterol, scoliosis, premature or delayed puberty, all which may not be apparent without measurements and physical examination. Additionally, behavioral, learning, or attention concerns may come to light through screening tools and discussion with families. Identifying these issues early during well visits allows for timely intervention and better long-term outcomes.
Q: How does staying on schedule with checkups prevent long-term complications?
Dr. Olsen: Staying on schedule with routine physicals helps prevent long-term health complications by allowing potential concerns to be identified and addressed early, before they become more serious. Regular visits ensure developmental milestones are being met and that a child's height and weight are trending as expected, which supports healthy growth and appropriate nutrition. These visits also provide opportunities to encourage healthy lifestyle habits and make changes as a child grows. When concerns are detected early, such as developmental delays or abnormal growth patterns, interventions can be started sooner, leading to better long-term outcomes. Routine physicals can also identify subtle findings, such as a heart murmur, allowing for early evaluation and management to reduce the risk of long-term cardiac complications. Staying on schedule also ensures children receive routine vaccinations, which protect against preventable infections that can otherwise lead to serious illness and long-term complications, helping keep children safe and healthy over time.
Q: Do routine physicals include mental and emotional health screenings now?
Dr. Olsen: The role of the physical exam has expanded beyond assessing only physical health to routinely include mental and emotional health screening as part of comprehensive care. It is now standard for children aged 12 and older to receive emotional and mental health screening at any visit, allowing for routine check-ins during a time when many changes are occurring. These screenings help us quickly identify concerns such as anxiety, depression, or stress and determine whether further conversation or support is needed. During these visits, we also discuss sleep patterns, appetite, and daily activities, which can provide important insight into a teen's overall well-being, interests, and functioning. Together, these discussions help guide whether additional evaluation or mental health resources may be beneficial, ensuring emotional health is addressed as proactively as physical health.
