Early Years Services

PLAY

HIPPY

What is HIPPY?

 

HIPPY (Home Instruction for Parents of Pre-school Youngsters) is a fun and entertaining home-based program that helps parents provide educational activities for their children during the year of kindergarten and the first year of school.

HIPPY promotes language skills in children and builds self-esteem and confidence in not only learning, but in communicating and interacting with others. It provides opportunities for parents and children to enjoy time together while encouraging learning in the home as well as increasing the likelihood of academic success.

Importantly, it enables parents to become more actively involved in their child's education and provides an ideal platform to strengthen parent and child relationships.

A program of activities is delivered to parents by mentors on a weekly basis. The parent then delivers the 15 minute program to the child daily during the week. The program curriculum spans 30 weeks per year during school terms, for two years. A group meeting is held each fortnight for parents to discuss topics of interest, to support and encourage each other.

This is a fun and interactive way for children to acquire the necessary curiosity for learning and for parents to become absorbed in their child's learning. It helps prepare young children for life by teaching skills and concepts that together lead to learning readiness.

The program also offers training and employment pathways for parents. Parents participating in the program are eligible to apply for Mentor positions as they arise. A feature of the program is that mentors are recruited from the families that have completed the program. This ensures linkages for families in the local area:

Who can be involved?

• Families who have children who turn four by 30 April (the year before going to school)
• Families where parents have limited opportunities for formal education themselves
• Families with a low income
• Families who would like to give their child a head start

What do you need?

• $1 per week
• 15 minutes, several times a week to share an activitiy with your child

Additional Information

• Programs currently operate in the following areas
  • City of Greater Geelong
  • Bellarine Peninsular
  • Colac and Otway Shire
  • Golden Plains
  • Surf Coast Shire

HIPPY Research

 

HIPPY Research March 2006