How often should anticipatory guidance be provided during preschool well visits?

• A. At every visit
• B. Only when safety concerns arise
• C. At every other visit
• D. Only annually

Answer: (A)

Anticipatory guidance should be provided at every preschool well visit. This approach ensures that prevention stays current with the child’s rapid development and the family’s changing needs. Preschoolers pick up new safety risks and health concerns as they become more mobile and independent—car seat or booster seat transitions, water safety, falls, burns, choking hazards, helmet use, and general household hazards. Growth patterns, sleep routines, nutrition, physical activity, screen time, and behavior strategies also shift as children approach school age. By giving guidance at each visit, clinicians reinforce healthy habits, answer new questions, and tailor recommendations to the child’s current stage, rather than waiting for a problem to appear. Although visits in the preschool years are typically scheduled annually, the preventive message should come with every encounter, not only when safety concerns are evident or only at longer intervals.