What is HIPPY?
HIPPY (Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters), is a free, bi-lingual school-readiness program that takes place entirely in the home. HIPPY empowers parents as their child’s first teacher, preparing their children for success in school and beyond. The model supports parents as their children’s first teacher by providing them the tools, skills, and confidence to teach young children in the home.
Through this program, parents engage in fun, interactive learning sessions with their children, building a strong foundation for future academic success. HIPPY is designed to equip parents with easy-to-use activities and strategies that make learning fun and engaging for your child, all within the comfort of your home. Our program not only focuses on academic skills but also fosters a love for learning, strengthens parent-child relationships, and builds confidence in your ability to support your child’s education.
Join our supportive community and give your child the best start in life with COA’s HIPPY Program!
HIPPY Info For Parents:
Curriculum:
HIPPY is a developmentally appropriate, early literacy curriculum designed to promote children’s cognitive, social, emotional and physical development. The curriculum consists of a set of easy-to-use educational activity packets and storybooks developed for parents of children ages 2-4. Parents engage with the curriculum by role playing the parent-child activities with a trained home visitor or Parent Partner.
Curriculum includes lessons in: Literacy, language, math, science, motor activities.
How to get started:
The best way to get involved with HIPPY is to fill out the interest form below! A HIPPY Parent Partner will reach out to you with more information on how to join HIPPY.
HIPPY Events:
Field Trips:
Home visits aren’t the only time children have opportunities to learn through play! Throughout the year, families have opportunities to participate in field trips across Milwaukee! Past field trips have included visits to the Urban Ecology Center, local parks, the Betty Brinn Children’s Museum, and more.
Monthly Family Gathering Nights:
Every month, HIPPY families come together for a fun night of food, games, and great company. These themed family events connect HIPPY families to one another and to the larger community by providing learning activities for the whole family and by bringing in local organizations to share community resources.
HIPPY Graduation:
Each year, we celebrate the accomplishments of HIPPY participants for completing a successful year of programming! All four-year-olds and their caregivers receive special recognition for completing the program with a memorable graduation ceremony. Children graduating from the HIPPY program leave ready to take on pre-school with all the lessons they learned from HIPPY.
Summer Programming:
HIPPY’s, “Fun in the Sun” consists of ten weeks of engaging family events at four Milwaukee parks: Moody, Kadish, Hartung, and Resike. Summer programming reinforces key lessons from the program year and includes outdoor group story time, book raffles, snacks, and fun learning activities for the whole family!
HIPPY’S Impact:
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97% of parents/caregivers learned new caregiver/parenting skills as a result of HIPPY
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After completing the HIPPY program, parents read to their child an average of 2 minutes longer per day
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Families own an average of 10 more books compared to before enrollment in the HIPPY program
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Last year, families making monthly visits to the library while participating in the HIPPY program increased by 20%