If you’re a parent hoping to give your child a jumpstart in kindergarten by enhancing her pre-math, pre-reading, social, and language skills, pre-kindergarten programs in Pembroke Pines are an excellent option. If you’re planning to enroll your child in a pre-kindergarten program, there are a few good things to know to plan for pre-k.

Find the right program.

Before choosing a pre-k program, there are a few essential features to look for during your search. Ask the school if you can schedule an appointment. This will give you a chance to speak with the teachers, ask questions, and see classes in progress. Look for classrooms where children are safe, active, and not wandering off by themselves. Your child should be in an environment where she is happy and not bored or distressed. Select a program where class sizes do not exceed 20 children, and that have at least 1 teacher for every 10 children. If your child is uncomfortable in larger groups, look for programs offering smaller classes of about 10 students.

Find the right teachers.

The staff should be caring, sensitive, and responsive to the needs and requests of the children. Ask about the program’s curriculum, and find out how it promotes language, social, physical-motor, and cognition development for the students. The pre-k program’s teachers should hold 4-year college degrees and have specialized training in child development and early childhood education. Assistant teachers should have some training or college course work in child development or a discipline related to pre-kindergarten.

Prepare your child.

Before heading to pre-k, ready your child with a few skills that will help her flourish at her new program. At this age, children should be able to dress themselves. Take the time to teach your child how to tie her shoes, button a shirt, dress herself in a jacket and mittens, and put on her backpack. To prepare her for learning to write in school, teach her how to properly grip a pencil and show her how to draw circles, half circles, and straight lines.

Voluntary Pre-K, also known as VPK, is a program children can be enrolled into before they enter kindergarten. Though it is a voluntary program, VPK in Pembroke Pines is an essential addition to children’s education . It helps prepare them for academic life, and it gives them a leg up in making friends. VPK is not all fun and games, though. Here are some facts about Voluntary Pre-K:

• VPK is typically held for a few hours in the morning. There are additional programs that offer more hours for the parents that work full-time.
• Children are exposed to the building blocks of various academic subjects. They will learn the alphabet, as well as the sounds of each letter. They will learn numbers 1-100, and the basics of pre-math.
• VPK is an opportunity for children to learn social skills before entering kindergarten. They will learn good manners, proper behaviors, and how best to act while in school while building their own unique identities.
• There is a program available during the summer months before kindergarten begins. This program is designed for children who were not initially involved in a VPK program the previous spring.

It has become much more common for children to attend pre-kindergarten in Pembroke Pines, because there are a number of benefits that this type of early education can have. Parents and teachers have been noticing the greater impact that a pre-k education has on children’s overall success in life, as well as their academics.

Children Are Academically Prepared

It is no secret that educational expectations and standards are growing every year. Children are expected to enter kindergarten with academic skills normally attained once in kindergarten or even first grade. With standards becoming higher, children need to enter academic life with the preparation that usually comes from a pre-kindergarten education. Children attend early educational programs—typically for a few hours a day and a few days a week—where they learn their numbers and letters, as well as a basic understanding of how these concepts become the building blocks of their future education.

Children Are Mentally Prepared

Kindergarten classes are typically held for a six to eight-hour period, every day of the week. The work can be mentally taxing, especially to a child who is not accustomed to regular classwork. When children are not exposed to classroom life, in addition to the academic expectations of school, they are less likely to succeed. Without a solid pre-k foundation, children may not be as focused as their peers who did attend pre-kindergarten programs.

Children Are More Likely to Succeed in School

Pre-k programs and classes are geared toward making learning fun for young children. These children, typically ages three to five, are filled with energy and cannot sit down and learn for long periods of time. Pre-k teachers must make their lessons fun and entertaining so children are more likely to learn. As they grow up associating learning with fun, they are more likely to do well in school where they can continue learning and having fun. Attendance, behavior, and academic success are much more likely with a pre-kindergarten education.

When it comes to your child’s education, only the best will do. Learning and development start early in life, and a great preschool near Pembroke Pines will help your child succeed now and later. There are many aspects to consider when you are choosing a preschool for your child, such as excellent staff and teachers, cleanliness and safety, and licensing. A great preschool should be able to provide a solid basis for its curriculum, which should include social and emotional development along with academic learning. Take a look at this infographic to learn more about what you should look for when you’re choosing a preschool for your child. By choosing a great preschool, you’ll give your child a head start on success in life. Please share with your friends and fellow parents.

Tanglewood Academy is a learning center in Pembroke Pines that is dedicated to fostering healthy early childhood development. Our highly trained staff members actively engage children in the learning process and invite parental involvement in our preschool. Our early learning center is pleased to offer a voluntary pre-k program, or VPK, intended for four-year-olds who are getting ready for kindergarten. VPK offers three-hour classes in the mornings during the week. Parents may choose to enroll their children in our enhancement program for after-hours day care. Children who did not participate in the VPK program the previous year and will be entering kindergarten in August are welcome to enroll in our full-day summer VPK program.

Voluntary pre-k supports children’s development by introducing them to a rich environment full of learning experiences. Early childhood education is the stepping stone toward later academic success. In VPK, children develop crucial pre-literacy and pre-math skills. They also work on their social skills during their interactions with their peers.