Early Childhood Screening is a free developmental screening for children ages 3–5. Minnesota requires children to complete a screening prior to entering kindergarten. Select a screening slot below to enroll now. Early Childhood Screening is a free check of your child’s growth, development, and learning. Minnesota recommends screening for all children between the ages of 3 and 5 before entering kindergarten. During the screening, trained staff look at areas such as speech and language, hearing, vision, motor skills, thinking skills, and social-emotional development. The screening helps identify your child’s strengths and any areas where additional support or resources may be helpful before starting school.