DECATUR -- Five-year-old Jayla Gregory's face lit up when she looked down the hallway at the Community Health Improvement Center and caught sight of her newest possession, a pink and white bicycle.

The brand-new bike was part of a plan by the CHIC medical staff to encourage parents and guard;ians to bring their children in early for the physical examination required of children entering preschool, kindergarten, fifth grade and ninth grade for the first time.

"Each year, getting kids to get their physicals on time is a big challenge," said Carolyn Wagner, nurse practitioner and director of clinical services at CHIC. "By Oct. 15 (the deadline), there are a lot of children out of school who still need to get their physicals, and we get a big hit."

CHIC ran a contest in which every child who completed his physical before Aug. 15 was awarded a set of McDonald's coupons. The child's name also was placed in a drawing for a bicycle.

Jayla received her physical July 12, after her father, Anthony, had the foresight to make an early appointment.

"I had problems previously with my kids when I made their appointments too late, so I wanted to start before the rush. I made the appointment before the last school year ended," he said.

Calling in for an early appointment means a child won't miss any days of school because of late physicals or immunizations, said Dr. Dana Ray, a family practice physician at CHIC who performed Jayla's exam.

"A physical ensures that children actually get all of their im;munizations, too, and we can catch any health problems they might have," Ray said. "I'm very pleased (with the turnout.) In July, basically all I did was school physicals."

CHIC also added a safety helmet to the prize, which Jayla found was a great fit.

"You're going to wear it all the time, right?" Ray said, to which Jayla nodded shyly.

Gregory said he was glad to bring his daughter to CHIC when he found out she had won.

"I thought it was great because she's been wanting a new bike," he said.