No matter which grade your child is about to enter, there’s the yearly back-to-school checklist of to-dos: shopping for school supplies, filling out permission forms, and of course the paediatric checkup. You should however treat this as more than just fulfilling a school requirement as a yearly physical exam is an important part of your child’s health care.

Back-to-school checkups are often the only visit most kids and teenagers have with their doctor every year. The annual physical gives the paediatrician a chance to give the child a thorough physical exam. It’s also a good chance to address important questions, especially with teenagers, including adolescent issues of drinking, social networking, smoking, drugs, sexual activity, and depression.