Are you interested in helping your child get a good start to their education? Navarre VPK schools might be for you.

VPK schools are wonderful for preparing your child for kindergarten and the rest of their educational career, but what are they? What’s the difference between standard early learning centers or preschools and a VPK program?

We’re here to keep you informed all about VPK schools.

Preschools vs VPK: What’s the Difference? 

A preschool is a place or program where your child gets to prepare for kindergarten. Not all children go to preschool.

These programs teach children through play and fun activities to help them develop certain skills before their education actually starts. They don’t dive deep into educational topics.

VPK is a voluntary pre-kindergarten. While it’s a type of preschool, VPK focuses more on making sure that children have developed sufficient math, reading, social, and physical skills, so that they get started on the right foot.

Why is VPK Helpful?

VPK focuses on practical skills that will help children as they continue forward through the rest of their education. Children’s brains finish the first critical stage of development by age 7, so 4 is a crucial age when it comes to learning.

Some early learning programs are more like daycare. While these are valuable for a child’s emotional and social health, a VPK is better for their brain.

Is VPK Expensive? 

Florida values the education of its youngest residents. This means that VPK is free to all 4-year old’s, regardless of their parents’ income.

While you will have to take care of transportation and any extra fees requested by the learning center for extra services or lateness, the education itself is free and accessible. All children are invited to learn.

Does My Child Have to Be 4?

While some pre-learning programs are flexible with age, VPK is only available to children who are or will be 4 years old at the start of the school year.

This places them in the perfect spot right before they’ll be starting kindergarten and keeps all children who are in the same developmental stage together to enhance their social skills.

How Long is VPK?

A standard VPK program lasts for 540 hours. This is broken down into 3-hour days, though some programs choose to have longer days less frequently.

Many parents struggle with short school days like this. We understand that most parents have jobs, so many VPK programs offer some kind of extra wrap-around care for children outside of standard VPK hours.

This allows children to stay in a safe and enriching environment while parents return to work.

Are You Looking for Navarre VPK Schools?

Navarre VPK schools are a great way to make sure that your child has all of the essential skills that they’ll need in order to start kindergarten on the right foot. They’ll develop socially, academically, creatively, and more while engaging with other children and enjoying themselves.

If you have a child who’s 4, or soon to be 4, consider enrolling them in VPK. We have a compassionate team that would love to teach your child. Contact us to register or check availability today.