A visit to the doctor always means answering lots of questions. As you prepare your family to head back to school, you can ask those questions now to find out what your kids still need for a healthy year. Dr. Anastasia Williams, director of pediatric services at SFCHC, has a list of the most important ones.
Getting vaccinated has never been more important. Measles was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, but thanks to falling vaccination rates, it’s back. Cases this year have already passed the total recorded for all of 2025.
Vaccines work with your body’s natural defenses to help you safely develop immunity to disease. “Every day, children can be exposed to hundreds of viruses and bacteria during normal activities at school, like eating or playing,” says Dr. Williams. “Vaccines safely trigger a body’s natural immune response, but do not cause the disease.”
The California Department of Public Health helps protect children by requiring vaccinations before they start school. Schools, pre-K facilities, and licensed childcare centers enforce these requirements. For your child to attend, you’ll be required to provide their complete immunization records. The good news? California law now requires health plans to cover these vaccines with no copay.
Children in transitional kindergarten through twelfth grade must be vaccinated against nine diseases before starting school:
Students starting seventh grade also need a booster dose of these vaccines:
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the COVID-19 vaccine for children age six months to two years old. The vaccine is also recommended for children ages two to 18 with risk factors for COVID. All children age six months and older should get yearly flu vaccines. Your provider will be happy to answer any questions you have about immunizing your kids.
As long as you’re holding your child’s hand while they get their shot, get one yourself. Some of your child’s classmates may have chronic health conditions, like asthma or diabetes, that can weaken their immune system. For these children, a common illness can become serious. Getting vaccinated every year lowers the chance of you passing an illness to someone else, protecting those kids, your own child, and yourself.
In chaotic times, it’s important to watch children for sudden changes like these:
These changes may not be illness or bad behavior, but actually signs of distress or anxiety.
If you’re concerned, ask a provider for help. Many schools or clinics (like SFCHC!) have counselors who are experienced with treating trauma.
To many parents, screen time means a much-needed break. But it’s important to know the risks of having too much.
Pediatricians strongly recommend capping screen time at two hours per day, and less for children under five. Children shouldn’t use screens before school, and never at meals, where they practice social and language skills. To preserve healthy sleep, screens should be turned off an hour before bedtime.
The best way to prevent illness is a healthy lifestyle. For kids, it lowers the risk of obesity, diabetes, and hormone problems and improves mental health.
Children age six through 17 should get at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day. Activities that increase their heart rate and strengthen bones and muscles are especially important. Walking or playing active games as a family, visiting playgrounds or parks, and joining local sports programs are all great ways for kids to get exercise.
Kids and teens should eat a healthy diet of:
Foods with added sugar (like sodas) and high in saturated fats and salt (red meat, junk food, desserts) should only be enjoyed on special occasions. Daily recommended amounts of food for every age are listed on the Mayo Clinic website.
Finally, kids need more sleep than adults to stay healthy. Children ages six to twelve need nine to twelve hours per day, while teenagers function best with eight to ten. Sleep recommendations for all ages can be found on the CDC website.
When it comes to teaching healthy habits, no method is more successful than setting an example. Exercising, eating healthy, and regulating your screen time benefits you, too! And staying vaccinated and tending to your mental health keeps you well enough to care for others.
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As the new school year approaches, help your provider help you: book sports physicals and submit school forms before the last-minute rush. Health insurance policies and verification requirements may have changed recently. Check your insurance coverage, especially if you’re a Medi-Cal member. SFCHC can help with this and anything you need to ready your family for whatever’s coming.
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