Anyone under the age of 18 who receives medical care at a healthcare clinic, such as a hospital, private practice, primary care clinic or urgent care center, is considered a pediatric patient. Pediatricians treat children from infancy to late adolescence; therefore, anyone who falls within this age range can be considered a pediatric patient.

Pediatric care is important for a number of reasons, namely because it is the first level of care provided to sick and injured children, and is largely responsible for the health and wellness of children. Children have unique needs and therefore require specialized care, care that is very different from what adults receive. Children’s bodies are constantly growing and developing, and this requires advanced knowledge on the life changes and maturations that occur during childhood and adolescence in order to provide adequate care. Furthermore, children, especially young children, have limited communicational skills; pediatricians understand this and can communicate and explain things in a way that children can understand. And very importantly, pediatricians can create a safe space where children feel open and encouraged to discuss their health and potential problems.

There are many kinds of childcare, each unique in its own ways. One of the most well-known childcare options is babysitting, a convenient option for parents that provides hourly care for children. Babysitting is often done by older siblings or people within the age range of 15 to 20 years old. Another popular option is a traditional daycare center, which provides full-day or half-day care for children of all ages. These centers typically charge monthly as opposed to hourly, and may provide meals and field trips. In addition to this, preschool is another common childcare option. Preschool is for children who are 2 to 5 years old, and serves as a preparation for elementary school. They typically provide care in large groups of children (similar to a classroom), and do group activities together.

Pediatric care provides countless benefits to children, especially when compared to non-specialized care for children. The biggest benefits of pediatric care are:

• Pediatricians are specially trained — The specialized training pediatricians receive is rigorous, comprehensive and invaluable. Pediatricians understand that children are not just small adults; they have very different anatomy and health needs.

• Pediatricians are experts in monitoring childhood development — Pediatricians are the authority in knowing what healthy development looks like. This important work typically happens during well-child visits, the first of which generally occurs within the first few days of a child’s life.

• Pediatricians emphasize prevention and wellness — One of the biggest focuses of pediatric care is maintaining wellness by preventing health problems.

• Pediatricians are well-versed in health issues that affect children — There are a number of conditions, diseases and injuries that are much more prevalent during childhood, and a pediatrician is familiar with all of these complications and knows how to treat them.

• Pediatricians are experts in communicating with children and caregivers — As part of their training, pediatricians learn how to communicate with children, as this could be the biggest obstacle in providing care.

Trust the experienced professionals at Olivero Pediatrics to provide your children with top-level care for all injuries and illnesses. Call us today or book an online appointment with our pediatric care specialist, or visit our clinic conveniently located at 1243 Skytop Mountain Rd. Suite 4, Port Matilda, PA 16870. We look forward to serving you! We serve patients from Port Matilda PA, Waddle, PA, Julian PA, State College PA, Bellefonte PA, Pennsylvania Furnace PA, Pine Grove Mills PA and surrounding areas.