• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
BridgeSpan medicine
  • Call Us
  • Forms
  • Bill Pay
  • Patient Portal
  • New Patient
  • Home
  • About
  • Meet Our Providers
    • Patricia Avvocato, MD
    • Wei Chen, MD
    • Kerry A. Godfrey, MD, FAAP
    • Erin Kelleher, MD
    • Mary Woo, MD, FAAP
    • Carol Wurzel, MD
  • Services
    • Adolescent Medical Care
    • Mental Health
    • Sexual Wellness
    • Wound Care
    • Covid-19
    • Respiratory Care
  • On-Site Services
  • Patient Resources
  • Contact

Three Adolescent Medicine Tips to Get Your Child Ready for School

December 16, 2022

Female doctor uses stethoscope to listen to teenage girl's heartbeat.

Adolescent years are times of extensive mental, emotional and physiological changes. When your child is getting ready for school–either in September or after the mid-year break–facilitate the many changes they will encounter.

Let’s talk about three adolescent medicine tips to help both parents and growing children and where you can go for outstanding pediatric care in Purchase, NY.

1# Schedule Back to School or Sports Participation Physicals Well Ahead of Time

New York State requires that each school-age child undergo a back-to-school physical to ensure good health before classes begin. Many sports physicals are due at this time as well.

So, book the exam appointment well in advance of the deadline. Have the necessary paperwork ready for the doctor to complete, including the vaccination record.

2# Allow Your Child to Have Some Private Time with the Pediatrician

Adolescents always have questions or concerns about health topics, such as sexuality, acne, bullying, stress, family dynamics, alcohol, tobacco, drug usage, and more. And, frankly, they are often more comfortable speaking to their healthcare providers alone rather than having family members present.

This policy of confidentiality never extends to topics of self-harm or other dangerous life situations. Rest assured! If the provider and your adolescent speak without you in the room, you still have charge of your child’s healthcare and welfare. So, inform your child ahead of the exam appointment that some private time with the doctor is an option.

3# Family Routines Are Important

Routines that you established with your adolescent during early childhood still reap important health benefits. While it can be challenging to enforce schedules, as much stability as possible helps the whole household get back into the rigors of the school year.

The family routines you should set (and model) are the following.

Regular Meals

Start the day with breakfast whenever possible. Have nutritious on-the-go choices, such as low-sugar protein and granola bars and breakfast sandwiches, ready for adolescents as they fly out the door for the bus or meet friends on the way to school. Studies show all kids perform better at academics when they eat breakfast. Preferably, eat dinner together as a family to provide kids time to decompress and talk about their days.

Set Bedtimes

Give your adolescent a little leeway regarding bedtime. Even though teens have trouble settling down before 11 pm (say sleep experts), avoid activities that extend too long into the evening.

Your adolescent child should try for nine to nine hours of sleep in twenty-four hours. To achieve this, you might encourage an after-school nap and keep your teen off phones, computers, and other screens for one to two hours before going to bed at night. (This habit is good for parents, too.)

Exercise

Thinking your adolescent child doesn’t move a lot? Between sitting in school, playing video games, and other sedentary activities, your teen may not be getting the recommended 30 to 60 minutes of daily exercise they need to stay healthy, develop good bone and muscle mass, control weight, and sleep well. Again, model this good habit for your child. Practice what you preach.

Adolescent Medicine in Purchase, NY

At BridgeSpan Medicine, our six board-certified pediatricians help families get their adolescents school-ready. As always, we are available to parents and our young patients when physical, mental, and emotional challenges arise. We also emphasize preventive care through routine check-ups, immunizations, on-site lab tests, and more.

We are open Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm, for your convenience. If you have a question or concern or wish to schedule a physical examination, call us today at (914) 698-5544, or request an appointment online.

Filed Under: Adolescent Medical Care Tagged With: Adolescent Medical Care in Purchase NY, Adolescent Medical Care near me, Adolescent Medicine in Purchase NY, Adolescent Medicine Near Me, adolescent mental health services near me, Best Pediatrician in Purchase NY, Best Pediatricians Near Me, Bridge Span Medicine in Purchase NY, mental health services for teens near me, mental health services for teens Purchase NY, pediatric care Purchase NY, pediatrician near me, pediatricians Purchase NY

Primary Sidebar

December 2022
M T W T F S S
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031  
« Nov   Jan »

Categories

  • Adolescent Medical Care
  • Blood test
  • Contraception
  • Eating Disorders
  • General
  • Kids Sports physicals
  • Mental Health
  • Pediatrician
  • Sexual Wellness
  • Substance Abuse
  • Vaccination
  • Well-Child Visits

Tags

adolescent contraception near me adolescent contraception Purchase NY Adolescent Medical Care in Purchase NY Adolescent Medical Care near me Adolescent Medicine in Purchase NY Adolescent Medicine Near Me Adolescent Medicine Provider in Purchase NY Adolescent Medicine Provider Near Me adolescent mental health services in Purchase NY adolescent mental health services near me adolescent sexual health adolescent sexual health near me adolescent sexual health Purchase NY Best Pediatrician in Purchase NY best pediatrician near me Best Pediatricians Near Me Blood Test in Purchase NY blood test Near me BridgeSpan Medicine child blood test child blood test near me Child Doctor In Purchase NY Child Doctor Near Me Child Physical Near me child physicals in purchase New York Child Physicals near me contraception near me contraception Purchase NY counseling services in Purchase NY Great Pediatrician Near Me Mental Health in Purchase New York mental health services for teens near me mental health services for teens Purchase NY pediatric blood tests near me pediatric care near me pediatric care Purchase NY Pediatrician in Purchase NY pediatrician near me pediatricians near me pediatricians Purchase NY treatment for adolescents with depression near me vaccines for children well-child visits well-child visits near me well-child visits Purchase NY

Footer

Read a Review

See what patients have to say about the exceptional service they have received at BridgeSpan Medicine.

Learn More

Leave a Review

Let us know about your experience at BridgeSpan Medicine. We love feedback from our patients!

Learn More

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Meet Our Providers
  • Services
  • On-Site Services
  • Testimonials
  • Contact Us
  • Patient Resources
  • Practice Policies
  • Accessibility Statement
  • HIPAA Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap

Address:
3010 Westchester Avenue,Suite 307
Purchase, NY, 10577

Phone: (914) 698-5544
Fax: (914) 761-1711

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Copyright © · BridgeSpan medicine · All Rights Reserved
iHealthspot Medical Website Design and Medical Marketing by iHealthSpot.com

BridgeSpan Medicine in Purchase, New York, offers pediatric and adolescent services including Adolescent Medical Care, Sexual Wellness, Respiratory Care, Mental Health, Wound Care, and Covid-19 testing.