For parents of little ones, you know you want nothing but the best for your child. There is also nothing better than giving them the gift of education from an early age.
Enrolling your child in a voluntary prekindergarten (VPK) program is one way to go about it. It will allow your child to become more active and sociable as well as help them develop a healthy and curious mind before they even enter kindergarten. The best part about it? VPK Florida is free!
Who Qualifies For The VPK Educational Program?
To qualify for the VPK Florida educational program, before or on the 1st of September, your child must be 4 years old. This means that if your child is older, they may not qualify for the VPK program. If they are younger, you will need to wait until they reach the appropriate age.
Keep in mind that if your child is born between February 2 and September 1 of the same calendar year, you can decide if you want to enroll them within the same year or the following year. An additional requirement is that you must reside in Florida.
What Do I Need to Do To Enroll My Child?
There are a few documents required to enroll your child within the VPK Florida. You will need to submit the following documentation to prove your child’s age as well as residency.
- Birth Certificate: You can only submit an original or certified copy.
- Proof of residency: You will need to show that you are a resident of the state of Florida. To prove this, you can submit a current driver’s license or a utility bill. Note that PO Box addresses will not be accepted as proof of residency.
Enrollment can be online or in person at the Office of Early Learning. If enrolling online, you need to ensure you have the correct documentation on hand as well as a valid email address. Your email account is used to verify your online account. This email address will also receive all correspondence related to your application. If extra information is needed, you will be contacted via email or phone.
Once your application is approved. You will receive an email explaining where to find and print your Certificate of Eligibility. Give the certificate to the school of your choice, along with other required documentation.
How Does Enrolling In The VPK Benefit My Child?
The VPK Florida program will help with your child’s development and growth. By enrolling them in a preschool such as Parkland Children’s Academy, you will be fostering a love of learning in an environment designed specifically for young children.
The program allows young children to grow physically, emotionally, cognitively as well as socially. Getting children used to a school environment, helps prepare them for kindergarten, making the transition from home to school a lot easier for both parents and children.
The Parkland Children’s Academy VPK Curriculum
At Parkland Children’s Academy, we focus on teaching your children the basic skills they will need to thrive in kindergarten. They will be exposed to cognitive development, social development, and physical development. This means that your child will be exposed to literacy at a young age, helping them learn the alphabet and expanding their vocabulary. They will also be exposed to various shapes, colors, and even basic problem-solving.
Learning and playing alongside other children will help them better their social skills, allowing them to pick up on a variety of social cues. Playing with others will also help develop their physical and motor skills. It’s all to help stimulate your child’s brain.
If you’re interested in learning more about the Florida VPK program or if you would like to schedule an appointment with us, we would love to answer any questions you may have. Call us today at 954-688-5877!