Health & Fitness
Getting your child ready for a healthy life starts early. Healthy eating and physical activity habits are very important, and need support from the whole family. Here are some resources to help your child have a healthy start to their preschool years. When children are not at their healthiest it may keep them from attending school, which takes away valuable learning time in preschool and later in their education.
Healthy Development
Examples of healthy development
Physical appearance and growth. In general, a preschooler’s growth gradually will begin to slow this year and in the subsequent ones—from about a 5-pound (2.3-kg) gain and about a 3 1⁄2 inch (8.9 cm) increase in height during the third year, and then decreasing to about 4 1⁄2 pounds or 2 kg, and 2 1⁄2 inches or 6.4 cm during the fifth.
Where can I find advice and knowledge?
KidsHealth.org is a widely-used children’s health and development site with advice and information for parents and fun material on health for kids.
What does sleep have to do with healthy development?
When preschool children don’t get enough sleep, it can affect their mood, behavior, eating habits, and ability to focus during the day. Learn more about what you can do to improve sleep from WebMD.
Physical Activity
Why do preschoolers need physical activity?
Today’s children are four times less active in their day-to-day lives than their grandparents were, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Being active helps your child stay healthy, learn good habits early, gives them an outlet for natural energy, and keeps them from high risk of obesity and other health problems throughout life.
How much physical activity does my preschooler need?
What is physical activity for preschoolers? Physical activity can be playing actively, family fun such as hiking or swimming, and anything that gets your child moving! Aim for 60 minutes a day, and check out these USDA resources for tips to get moving.
- Encourage your preschooler to play actively several times every day. Preschoolers’ activity may happen in short bursts
- Limit TV, tablet, and other screen time to less than 1 hour total per day.
- Preschoolers need quiet time
- Be a role model and limit your own inactivity
- Look for active childcare settings that engage children in play and regular physical activity
- Make active play fun for the whole family. Take a walk together after dinner, play catch, kick a ball, or turn up the music and dance.
How do we get started with physical activity?
Getting active can be free and easy. Check out this resource from PBS for tips to get active at your local park.
- Encourage your children to watch for wildlife.
- Go on a scavenger hunt.
- Picnic in the park
- Make art from nature
- Play with dirt and mud
- Watch the clouds
Where can I find free kid-friendly places for physical activity in San Antonio?
Medical Home
What is a medical home?
Today, a child needs a home base for medical and non-medical care supported by a partnership between you, the parent or caregiver, your family, and your primary doctor or provider.
If you have insurance, it is likely you have already established a medical home. If you have not yet enrolled in medical insurance for your family, this is an important step to secure the medical support your child needs for healthy development. To get information about enrolling or one-on-one help, please visit enrollsa.com.
When should I call a pediatrician?
Handling illnesses or medical issues can sometimes be confusing for parents both new and old. Wondering when to call a pediatrician? Here are some helpful tips from WebMD.
- High Fever – The American Academy of Pediatrics says to call your pediatrician right away if your child’s temperature repeatedly goes above 104 degrees.
- Vomiting or Diarrhea – If it’s a single episode, there’s no need to worry. Call your pediatrician if your child’s symptoms become more severe or last for more than a few hours.
- Coughs, Colds, and Other Respiratory Problems – When your child is older than 3 months, call the pediatrician if there is trouble breathing, a cough lasts more than a week, or there is also ear pain.
- Rash – Although most clear up on their own, call your pediatrician if your kid doesn’t have any energy, feels pain at the site of the rash, or has a rash that goes deep into the skin.
- Pain While Peeing – Call your pediatrician, especially for girls, as it could be a possible UTI.
Where can I find a pediatrician?
Looking for a pediatrician in your area? Find one here.
Well-Child Visits
Why are Well-Child Visits important?
Childhood is a time of rapid growth and change. At this exam, the health care provider will check your child’s growth and development in order to find or prevent problems. Your child should have more pediatric well-child visits when they are younger and developing the fastest. Each visit includes a complete physical examination. Even if your child is healthy, well-child visits are an important time to focus on your child’s wellness. Learn more about well-child visits here.
At yearly exams, your child will be weighed and measured, and these results will be plotted on growth charts for weight, height, and body mass index (BMI). Using these charts, doctors can see how kids are growing compared with other kids the same age and gender. The doctor will take a medical and family history and do a physical exam. During checkups, your child’s blood pressure, vision, and hearing will be checked.
Immunizations
Why should my child get immunizations?
The use of vaccines has led to major improvements in child health over a relatively short period. Many of the infectious illnesses you or your parents had as children, from chickenpox to polio to measles, no longer affect most children today because of immunizations. If you follow the immunization guidelines recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), you can help make your child healthier than was ever possible in earlier generations. Learn more.
What do I tell my kids about immunizations?
This link from KidsHealth includes a simple guide to shots with interactive questions for parents and information for kids.
Where do I go for immunizations?
The Metro Health Immunization Clinic offers immunization services in San Antonio. Learn more.
Reminder: Immunizations are required by law
Immunizations are not only important for healthy development, but it’s also the law. Students who have not completed immunizations will not be allowed to register for kindergarten. Give yourself plenty of time during the spring of the year before your child enters kindergarten to have them done. Download guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Speech, Language and Hearing
What about speech, language and hearing health?
For more information about ensuring your child’s speech, language and hearing health, check out this helpful guide from the American Speech—Language-Hearing Association.
Dental Health
How do I help my preschooler keep that bright smile?
Check out this Nick Jr. page for simple tips for making sure your kid is ready to keep a bright, healthy smile for life.
How do I find a dentist that’s right for my child?
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), the recognized authority on children’s oral health, can help you find a dentist for your child in your area.
