A regular reading habit gets your child ready for school -- By the time a child starts kindergarten, he will have passed through a great many developmental milestones. The vast majority of children arrive with the foundational skills they need to start their learning journey. However, to ensure that all children come to school ready to learn, many school districts across the country assess kindergarten readiness upon entry, to identify those children who may benefit from some extra help. Charleston County uses The Developmental Indicators for the Assessment of Learning™, Fourth Edition (DIAL™-4) . This screening tool targets five key developmental areas: motor , language , concepts , social-emotional, and self-help . It provides guideposts for what children should know, and the skills they should have, to hit the ground running. The sooner developmental concerns are flagged, and supports put in place, the more likely a child is to catch up and keep on track. Click here