Students across the country will be heading back to the classroom soon. While shopping for new supplies and clothes is on every parent’s to-do list, there are a few other things kids need to do before the school bell rings.

 

Eye Exams

To avoid pulling your child out of class during the school day, it’s best to get your child’s vision checked before the school year starts.

Eye exams also catch vision problems that could get in the way at school.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends checking children’s vision at regular well-child visits, with vision screening at ages 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 15. If your child fails a screening, has trouble seeing, or has a family history of eye problems, ask about a full exam with an eye doctor.

 

Dental Visits

Like eye exams, it’s best to get these scheduled early, as most dentists are booked up and require patients to schedule weeks in advance.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends all children get a dental check-up once every six months. These are important for helping protect teeth from decay and ensuring teeth develop correctly.

 

Medical Visits

Each state sets its own vaccination requirements for school, and they can differ by grade. It’s important to contact your school to secure the necessary medical forms and to schedule appointments with your child’s physician.

Vaccinations help prevent diseases such as measles, mumps, and hepatitis B and A.

Vaccine recommendations have been changing, so ask your child’s doctor which vaccines your child needs. You can also review the American Academy of Pediatrics’ 2026 immunization schedule.

 

Take a Tour

It’s good for you and your kid to know where things are at school. You’ll know where to drop your students off, pick them up, and they can know where their classroom and locker is going to be. If your child changes classes during the day, walking through their schedule and visiting each classroom is a good idea, too.

Whether it’s a new school or they’re just changing grades, the more prepared your student is for day one, the easier it will be for them to hit the ground running.

 

Get them reading

A great way to help kids get back in the right mindset before class starts is to get them reading at home. It gets their minds working again and eases them back into reading because they can do so at their own pace – especially if they’ve been slacking off all summer long.

 

Start taking folic acid

Back-to-school season is also a good time to think about folate. Folate helps the body make new cells, including healthy skin, hair, and nails, and building a daily vitamin habit early encourages healthy routines. Most younger girls get enough folate from a healthy diet that includes fortified grains, according to the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, so check with your child’s doctor before adding a supplement for a younger girl.

Folic acid’s greatest benefit is for anyone capable of becoming pregnant, including teens. Getting 400 mcg every day can greatly reduce the risk of a baby developing neural tube defects (NTDs) such as spina bifida and anencephaly, according to the CDC.

Learn more about the benefits of folic acid for the young women in your life here.

Updated October 2026. This article is for general information and is not a substitute for advice from your health care provider.

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