Southern Health-Santé Sud is hoping to give children in the region the best possible start to kindergarten. Over the next month and a half the RHA will be hosting a Pre-School Wellness Screening Day in the communities of Morden, Manitou, Winkler, Carman, and Altona.
    
The wellness days offer a full assessment for kids born in 2013 who are entering kindergarten next year.

Areas tested will include things like checks on vision, hearing, dental, speech and language, and gross and fine motor development.

"What we're really hoping, is that the year before kids come into kindergarten, that we can offer every child have a great start," said Jeanette Pritchard, who is a speech and language pathologist with the Western School Division.  "If there are areas where children are struggling with or a there's a little bit of a delay, then families can have an opportunity to follow up with some of these professionals."

If there is a concern noted, Brenda Klassen, a public heath nurse for Southern Health, said parents will be given the option for a referral right away.  "Those get submitted and put in the cue, and they will hopefully get seen before they start kindergarten."

Pritchard said there are all kinds of resources within the community families can access, whether it be to address concerns about hearing or concerns of a child's gross and fine motor development, these therapies are free for families, and they want to give families the opportunity to receive some of that information and understand how they can access those resources.

The first screen day will take place at the Morden Alliance Church, May 9th. Manitou's will follow on May 10th, Winkler happening May 18th, Altona June 6th, and Carman's will wrap up things up on June 15th.

Klassen said in order for them to prepare, parents need to pre-register.  The number to call for the Winkler and Morden screening days is 204-331-8841.  Klassen said for the other communities, parents should call their communities public health office.