Early Childhood Screening in Crookston is just around the corner. KROX met with the Early Childhood Coordinator at Washington School, Gina Gunderson, on Tuesday to get the scoop on the screening dates, how to register, who should register, and what happens when you take your child in to be screened. “Early Childhood Screening, we do twice a year at the public school, March and then in August,” says Gunderson. “We are just beginning to get information out to the community about getting signed up.”
Gunderson says the early childhood years from birth to the start of kindergarten are an important time in rapid growth and learning and Early Childhood Screening is an important tool for children in our community. Who should be screened? “It’s for all children who have turned three prior to March 1, 2025, or who have not been previously screened,” says Gunderson. “Screening is a free program in Minnesota that checks how a child is developing and growing, supports children to be successful learners, and promotes positive developmental outcomes during the screening.”
Screening is required by law in the state of Minnesota and must be completed before kindergarten enrollment. “Our Early Childhood Screening checks your child’s health and development and is completed by the teachers at Washington School and the nurses,” says Gunderson. “Screening includes a review of height, weight, vision, and hearing. We go over immunizations, and another would be speech; we do a speech and language screening.” During the screening, children are also checked for their social and emotional health and overall development. Of course, the screenings are based on the ages of the child, Gunderson says. “A three-year-old is only asked what is appropriate for that age.”
Early Childhood Screening in Crookston is coming up in early March. “Screening will take place March 5th and March 6th at Washington School,” says Gunderson. “You should have received a letter in the mail if your child has turned three by March 1st or is older and hasn’t been screened.” Gunderson says that parents and guardians can call Washington School at 281-2762 or email brendacrane@isd593.org for more information or to schedule an appointment. “Once an appointment has been scheduled the paperwork that is required will be mailed out to be completed prior to the screening,” says Gunderson. “Each child that comes will be given a backpack filled with really great supplies to help with development prior to entering kindergarten. All of these are funded by the Early Childhood Summit and an Otto Bremer trust grant that was received a few years back.”
Gunderson says the backpacks are full of supplies to work on writing, and cutting, and there is a book to read with family and just lots of good stuff to take home after the screening. “Please get signed up; it’s a free and simple check of how your child is growing, developing, and learning,” says Gunderson. “As a parent, it’s fun to come with them, go to each station and see what they are able to do, interacting with people they don’t necessarily know, and see how they are learning and growing.”
Early Childhood Screening in Crookston is March 5th and 6th at Washington School.
