By By MaryClaire Foster
Heading into their 10th week, HIPPY program participants and instructors met Tuesday at the YMCA for a monthly meeting.
The HIPPY program, which is an acronym for Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters, allows parents of children three years old to participate in home-based teaching and instructors visit the homes once a week to teach parents how to teach their children. Parents then spend 15 to 20 minutes a night teaching their children.
According to HIPPY instructor, Carla Walden, the monthly meeting provides something more for both the parents and children.
Program Director Dianne Rose also said that the interaction between the children and the parents really adds something extra to the program.
Parent Karen Coker said the monthly meeting is something her son, Jake, always looks forward to.
Coker said that the entire program has been very beneficial to both she and her son.
Karen Stacey is also a parent in the program and said she values the way the program is set up.
Both Coker and Stacey said that there children have tested above their age in learning tests and attribute it to the program.
Rose said she has been impressed with the parents and children in the program.
Rose said the program started out with 30 children, and seven have already withdrawn, but were able to be replaced from a waiting list.
She encourages parents to go ahead and be put on the waiting list for next year for both three year olds and four year olds.
To be on the list, the children’s ages must comply with requirements set by the school.