Well Child Checks & Physicals

Well-child checks are performed periodically throughout childhood at specific intervals. These checks are referred to as physicals or check-ups. The purpose of the checks is to track the growth and development of the child in all areas, including physical, emotional, cognitive, and social. Delays in any of these areas can indicate the need for further testing to rule out possible problems that need to be addressed.

Well-child checks include a physical to find indications of preventable illnesses or injuries. Patient and parent education is also an important part of the visit. Information can be provided on anything from car seat safety to suggestions on sleep schedules and potty training techniques.

Pediatricians provide healthcare for children and adolescents up to the age of 21. As the child becomes a teenager, well-child checks will progress to include education on adolescent matters, such as puberty, mental health concerns, sexual behaviors, and even substance abuse. These are concerns that all teenagers are having to cope with these days. Sometimes, the ability to talk to someone outside the family allows a teen to process their feelings. The goal of the pediatrician-patient relationship is to make the patient comfortable enough with the pediatrician to open up about problems they may not be able to talk about with others.