APA Dictionary of Psychology

regular, scheduled preventive health visits for infants, children, and adolescents that provide comprehensive services to support healthy growth, development, and overall well-being. These visits typically include physical examinations, growth measurements, developmental and mental health screening, immunizations, and guidance on nutrition, safety, and disease or injury prevention, while offering families and caregivers opportunities to discuss behavioral, emotional, learning, or social concerns. Well-child care is a foundational component of pediatric preventive care designed to promote physical, emotional, and social health, reduce disparities in access to care, and support ongoing health needs management across childhood and adolescence.