United Way in Walker, Catoosa and Dade counties is providing a new, free service to children under the age of five who reside in Catoosa, Dade and Walker counties.

By using this new service, you can earn a voucher for a free family pass to the Creative Discovery Museum in Chattanooga in just 10 minutes.

Learning check-ups aren’t new to children in this area, but in the past, area residents with children ages five and under had to call United Way to have a learning check-up mailed to their homes, or they had to go to an event where the learning check-ups were being administered or handed out in person.

The big news is that the learning check-ups are now online, and you can administer one to your child in the convenience of your own home and on your own schedule. No more waiting for a form to arrive in the mail or trudging out to an event. Now, if you have a child age five or under in your home (whether you are a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle or guardian), you can go online at uwchatt.org/checkup or uwchatt.org/ready and fill out the questionnaire online.

As a bonus, you will receive a voucher for one free family pass to the Creative Discovery Museum with your child’s results. You’ll receive your results and the voucher for museum admission in four to six weeks after you complete the check-up.

Learning check-ups are designed to provide information on how a child is developing in relation to his or her age range. And if you are also enrolled for free books, then Project Ready for School will send your child a new learning check-up each year.

Then there is the free book program for all area children, ages five and under. These books are provided by United Way's Project Ready for School through Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. Children enrolled in Project Ready for School will receive one free book in the mail each month until their fifth birthday. Children begin receiving books within eight to 10 weeks after enrolling in the program.

When you enroll your child in Project Ready for School, your child can receive free books, free learning check-ups and vouchers for free family passes to the Creative Discovery Museum.

To enroll your child for free books or change your address if you already receive these books at home, contact Jan Brooks at 423-752-0328 or janbrooks@uwchatt.org. You can also call 423-752-0302 or email iicintern@uwchatt.org if you prefer to have a hard copy of the learning check-up mailed to your home.