Don’t Forget Your Child’s Forms and Physicals!
As backpacks are packed, lunch boxes are stocked, and first-day jitters begin, there’s one important item that often gets overlooked: making sure your child’s school health paperwork is complete.
Whether your child is starting kindergarten, joining the soccer team, attending after-school activities, or simply heading back to the classroom, many schools require updated medical forms before the school year begins. Taking care of these items early can help you avoid last-minute stress and ensure your child is ready for day one.
Sports Physicals
Planning to participate in school athletics? Most schools require a sports participation form completed by your child’s healthcare provider before practices or games begin.
A sports physical allows us to:
- Review your child’s overall health and medical history.
- Identify any conditions that could affect safe participation.
- Discuss injury prevention, hydration, and healthy training habits.
- Complete any required school or athletic association paperwork.
If your child is due for an annual wellness visit, we can often complete sports forms during that appointment, making it easy to check both items off your list.
School Medication Forms
If your child needs medication during the school day—such as an inhaler, EpiPen®, ADHD medication, seizure medication, or other prescribed treatments—your school will likely require medication authorization forms signed by your pediatrician.
These forms help ensure:
- School staff understand when and how medications should be administered.
- Emergency medications are readily available when needed.
- Your child can safely participate in school activities throughout the day.
Be sure to obtain the required forms from your child’s school and submit them as early as possible.
Annual Wellness Visits Matter
Even if your school doesn’t require a physical this year, an annual wellness visit is one of the best ways to keep your child healthy and prepared for the school year ahead.
During these visits, we’ll:
- Monitor growth and development.
- Review nutrition, sleep, and physical activity.
- Ensure vaccinations are up to date.
- Address behavioral, emotional, or academic concerns.
- Answer any questions you or your child may have.
These visits provide a great opportunity to catch potential health concerns before they become bigger issues during the busy school year.
Plan Ahead
Back-to-school season is one of the busiest times of the year for pediatric practices. Scheduling appointments early and submitting forms in advance helps us complete everything before school starts.
For established Parkwood Pediatrics families, school forms can be uploaded through our patient portal for completion. Please allow approximately 48 hours for most form requests and 72 hours for immunization record requests.
We’re Here to Help
At Parkwood Pediatrics, we want every child to begin the school year healthy, confident, and ready to learn. Whether you need a wellness exam, sports physical, medication authorization, or school forms completed, our team is here to make the process as smooth as possible.
If you still need to schedule your child’s appointment, don’t wait until the last minute. Contact our office or request an appointment through the patient portal today, and let’s get your family ready for a successful school year!
