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HIPPY

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What Is HIPPY?

Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) is a parent involvement, school readiness program that helps parents prepare their three, four, and five year old children for success in school and beyond.

HIPPY helps parents empower themselves as their children’s first teacher by giving them the tools, skills and confidence they need to work with their children in the home. The program was designed to bring families, organizations and communities together and remove any barriers to participation that may include limited financial resources or lack of education.

The History

HIPPY is an international program that started in Israel in 1969 and spread to Turkey, Germany, Chile, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa and other countries. The program came to the United States in 1984.

The Basics

Parents and Children
The Keys HIPPY Program consists of easy-to-use activity packets, home visits and group meetings. Keys HIPPY parents learn how to prepare their children for success in school and beyond. Goals of the Keys HIPPY Program include:

• improving interaction between parents and their children
• teaching parents and children the joy of learning
• providing parents with the support, guidance and friendship of trained home visitors
• helping parents to become involved in school and community life

Keys HIPPY curriculum helps parents enourage their children to follow directions, tell stories, solve logical problems, recognize shapes and colors and acquire other school readiness skills.

The Keys HIPPY curriculum includes:

• weekly lesson packets to help parents teach their child
• children's books, creative games, crayons, scissors, pencils and shapes
• materials available in English and Spanish

A recent three year study of the program in the United States showed that the children who had been in HIPPY were significantly better adapted to the classroom than those who had not participated in the program. (Summarized from Baker & Piotrokowski NCJW Center for the Child Report, Spring 1995)

Home Visitors

Parent to Parent Education
These dedicated staff members work part-time, visiting home, role-playing lesson packets, and providing encouragement and advice.

More Information from HIPPY USA