Over one million Canadian children are at risk of NOT being prepared for kindergarten because their families struggle with conditions of poverty and low levels of literacy.

The HIPPY childhood development program addresses the diverse needs of these families to maximize the educational potential of their pre-school children.

HIPPY Canada is about helping parents learn how easy, fun and rewarding it is to teach their children at home.

HIPPY Canada Video

The HIPPY Canada Mothers Matter Series

Beatrice's Story

HIPPY a boon to mothers and children

On Mothers’ Day, six-year-old Serena Datta will give her mother, Rajasree, a big hug and a huge hand-crafted card saying “You’re the best mom”.

While all kids love their mom, Datta believes her bond with her daughter Serena is exceptionally close due to their positive experiences with the nationwide Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) program.

When Datta immigrated to Toronto from Kolkata, India with her husband and Serena in July 2009 she joined a local parenting centre, where she heard about HIPPY and decided to enroll her daughter.

“Little did I know at the time that it would change my way of thinking about parenting and how to spend quality time with my daughter,” she says now.

Datta was a kindergarten teacher in Kolkata, yet she says the HIPPY childhood development program has given her an entirely new perspective on how to teach children through play.

“HIPPY is the most amazing way to teach kids and to develop their mental growth and development in reading, language and communication, thinking and reasoning, and mathematics and science,” she says. “My daughter was well-prepared to enter junior kindergarten and was ahead of most of her classmates—it has given her tremendous confidence.”

Not all Canadian children are so lucky. More than one million are at risk of being unprepared for kindergarten because their families struggle with poverty or low literacy levels.

HIPPY gives these parents a fun, flexible and easy-to-follow curriculum, complete with books and educational resources, so that they can prepare their children at home for the demands of kindergarten and primary school.

HIPPY’s home visitors—mothers who have already completed the program with their own children—teach parents how to use the program resources and become their child’s first and best teacher.

The program is not just for kids, however. HIPPY’s home visitors also try to break the social isolation that immigrant and low-income mothers often experience. The home visitors provide information about community services and events, and encourage mothers to join in and contribute. As well, HIPPY organizes information sessions on everything from career preparation and children’s dental care to financial planning and volunteer opportunities.

This June, Serena will attend a HIPPY graduation ceremony. In September, she’ll enter Grade one in a French immersion school, something that her mother says is only possible because of the strong foundational skills she has already acquired through the HIPPY program.

Once Serena is in school, Datta plans to become a HIPPY home visitor because, she says, “I want to help other parents connect to their children in more productive ways, and make a worthwhile contribution to building the future of our society.”

Her Excellency Visits HIPPY

On the afternoon of February 16, 2012, the HIPPY (Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters) program and the Musqueam Indian Band hosted Her Excellency, Sharon Johnston, wife of Governor General David Johnston. His Excellency is patron of the HIPPY Canada program.

Co-hosted by the Musqueam Band and Aboriginal HIPPY at The Musqueam Cultural Education Resource Centre in Vancouver, this extraordinary event began with a welcome to Her Excellency with a traditional Musqueam song led by Alec Dan and accompanied by Respected Elder Larry Grant. Counselor Wade Grant served as Master of Ceremonies.

Her Excellency addressed the community from within the circle. In her inspiring address, she emphasized how “very, very proud” she is that her husband is the first Patron of HIPPY Canada. Her Excellency also spoke of her own experience raising five children: “I appreciate how tough it is to be a teacher to a child, it is so essential”. Her Excellency also spoke warmly of what the north can teach the south: "I am here to learn things that I can take back into my own culture. There is so much that we can learn from you".

Elder Larry Grant and Elder Mary Charles gave heartfelt speeches on the Musqueam people and the impact that the HIPPY program has had on its community. Elder Grant spoke of the history of the Musqueam people being a matriarchal society; “the knowledge came from the mother”. Counselor Grant praised the HIPPY program and its mission, saying: “For education to succeed, it has to start at home.”

Next we heard from HIPPY parents, home visitors and HIPPY graduates. HIPPY moms spoke of how, through the program, they were able to spend more time bonding with their children and how their children’s teachers could see the positive results of the program. A few brave HIPPY graduates spoke about what they loved about the program, holding signs with “HIPPY Rocks because it helps me and Mia read” printed in big, bold letters. It was obvious that both parents and children benefit from the HIPPY program.

Her Excellency spent a great deal of time one-on-one with members of the Musqueam band, occasionally sitting down on the floor with some of the Musqueam children to interact on a more personal level. The children were thrilled. Elder Grant closed the event with a beautiful history presentation on the Musqueam people.

HIPPY Canada is very grateful for both Her Excellency’s visit and the Patronage of His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston. The Board and staff of HIPPY extend a sincere thank-you to the Musqueam Band for their warm hospitality and the gift of hosting such a moving event.

GIVING: How Each of Us Can Change the World

Bill Clinton
"I wish there were HIPPY programs in every community with a significant number of single mothers or poor, undereducated parents. Anyone who has ever been to a HIPPY graduation ceremony and seen the pride and self-confidence of both parents and children would agree. Even if you are not a parent of a preschool aged child, you can take the lead in bringing HIPPY to your home town, volunteer to be a home visitor, or support them with money or other services." (Clinton: 2007, p. 73)



Debbie Bell, executive director HIPPY Canada, Miriam Chandia, Britannia home visitor and Robin Green, Aboriginal Consortium coordinator meet Bill Clinton on November 1, 2007 in Vancouver, BC.

Patron

His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston
C.C., C.M.M., C.O.M., C.D
Governor General of Canada




HIPPY Canada gratefully acknowledges our funders and donors for their generous support.









(Anonymous donor)