When you’re looking for the best VPK program to enroll your children in, our Parkland preschool offers a curriculum-based VPK program that helps students grow while they learn. Our preschool offers a fun experience for preschoolers to begin their educational journey.
Learn more about what a VPK program is and how to enroll in one today.
What Is A Florida VPK Program?
VPK is a voluntary prekindergarten program committed to multiple facets of a child’s learning, including physical, emotional, social, and cognitive development. A quality VPK program helps prepare children for kindergarten. Not only do they prepare them when starting their schooling years, but also to help them get used to the classroom and the school routine.
Staff teach age-appropriate lessons that help students transition to school more easily. A VPK program is for children who turn 4 years old on or before September 1. The program runs for 540 instructional hours each year.
Important Facets Of A Quality VPK Program Curriculum
A VPK program teaches fundamental skills children need to be successful in kindergarten. This important stage of development helps young children learn through instruction, hands-on experiments, exploration, and play. The most successful curriculum supports children by building their confidence in the classroom, helping nurture emotional growth and social skills, and building academic readiness.
Because it focuses on key developmental areas, a VPK program equips young children and their parents with the tools needed to help them flourish into great students.
Some of the main components of a reputable VPK program curriculum include:
Early Literacy Skills
This includes lessons that build letter recognition, vocabulary, and phonics through reading, storytelling, and songs. Staff encourages a love of reading while helping students understand that the story has meaning and helping them understand themes. They will learn to recognize and spell their name and begin pre-writing strokes. Children will enter kindergarten being curious readers who are ready to learn.
Math Readiness
Children learn basic math concepts like shapes, patterns, counting, and number recognition. Puzzles, games, and blocks help make math more fun. They will learn measurements, quantities, and sizes. This leads to better critical thinking skills needed for success in kindergarten.
Socio-Emotional Development
Teachers teach kids to share, how to take turns, and about conflict resolution. They also help them identify and manage their emotions while building empathy for those around them. Here, they learn confidence, independence, and how to work in a group. These skills help them prepare to start friendships and to handle challenges in the classroom.
Physical Development
Strong physical development helps students build coordination and control over their bodies. There are two main physical skills children need:
- Fine Motor Skills: These help them strengthen the muscles in their hands and fingers by holding and using pencils, crayons, or markers; cutting with scissors; playing with sensory tools or playdough; using zippers or buttons; or improving hand-eye coordination with puzzles.
- Gross Motor Skills: These physical activities build larger muscle groups and coordination through balancing, skipping, hopping, climbing, running, throwing, kicking balls, dancing, or engaging in outdoor play.
Getting Accustomed to School Routines
By enrolling your child in a VPK program, they begin to familiarize themselves with a school schedule and classroom expectations. They also learn how to participate in a group, follow directions, and listen effectively to their teacher. This helps them transition more smoothly to kindergarten, as they feel ready to learn on the first day of kindergarten.
Benefits Of Enrolling In A VPK Program
The biggest benefit of having your child in a VPK program is being around children their own age before entering kindergarten, helping them build confidence. Teachers can give parents feedback on their child’s progress, which allows them to work with their child at home on things they need extra help with. Any potential learning difficulties can also be addressed with early intervention.
How To Apply For A VPK Program
To enroll in a school that offers a VPK Program you must have apply for your child’s VPK Certificate of Eligibility online via the State of Florida - Family Portal website.
Before applying make sure you have:
- An email address
- Proof of Florida residency
- Proof of your child’s age
- A copy of your child’s current IEP
Schedule A Tour To Visit Our Florida VPK Program
If you’re interested in learning more about our VPK program, schedule an appointment to tour our facility and meet some of our staff. We would love the chance to answer any questions about your child’s learning.
To schedule this appointment, call us at 954-688-5877 or complete our online contact form and learn more about how Parkland Children’s Academy can help your preschooler thrive.