WORDS & PICTURES: Gabrielle Versmessen
Florida’s Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program (VPK) is a free educational program that prepares four-year-olds for kindergarten and beyond. Participating in VPK sets a student’s educational success for life. There are early literacy skills being taught as well as social-emotional skills that are being acquired.
In order to enroll in VPK, a child must live in Florida and be four on or before September 1st of the school year they enroll. VPK is offered in private, public, and faith-based child care centers, public schools, and school year or summer programs. Four-year-olds with special needs have the option for VPK Specialized Instructional Services outside the classroom setting.
Kindergarten readiness isn’t just about counting to 10 or reciting the ABCs. It includes pre-writing and writing skills. It includes understanding emotions and social cues. It includes being able to self-regulate emotions at an age-appropriate level. It includes teaching your child independence with daily routines. These sometimes overlooked but necessary skills set the stage for further academic success. A student will be able to write his or her first and last name. A student will be able to establish friendships and meaningful connections with peers. A student will be able to independently use the restroom without teacher assistance.
Melissa Cujas, Deputy Director of Provider Quality and Child Development at the Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County (ELC): “Providing access to VPK for children offers them the chance to improve their social and emotional abilities. It also boosts their language and vocabulary development, ultimately preparing them for success in Kindergarten.”
The successful transition to kindergarten is another positive aspect of the VPK program. VPK prepares children for what kindergarten and grade school will look like. They get used to a classroom setting, lesson plan, and thirty-minute lunch. Recognizing these daily patterns eases a student’s anxiety about entering a new routine.
Additionally, the Early Learning Task Force of Manatee County has put together a Transition to Kindergarten (T2K) initiative. “Transition” refers to the totality of experiences and opportunities a child encounters in moving from one program or setting to another. Opportunities and experiences that familiarize children and families with new settings, expectations, and relationships can help make connections that ease adjustments.
When transitions are effective, they provide the support children need to make these adjustments. Children who are able to make a successful transition to kindergarten enjoy school, show steady growth in academic and social skills, and have families who are more actively engaged in their learning. The ELC has put together a VPK Calendar and “Tips for the Approaching School Year & Beyond” on its website for parents and educators to utilize for their VPK students.
We highly recommend reviewing the resources available on the ELC’s website if you have a child entering VPK or kindergarten this upcoming school year. Playing a proactive part in your child’s academics from an early age creates a solid family and educational foundation.
- To view the T2K resources, visit www.elc-manatee.org/Transition-to-Kindergarten. To register your child for VPK or learn more about a VPK program near you, visit www.elc-manatee.org/Voluntary-Prekindergarten-VPK.
