The Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters (HIPPY) is a fun, free, home-based early learning and parenting program.
HIPPY is an effective way to support early-childhood learning in the home – delivering great outcomes for children, parents and the community. It works with families with young children in the pre-school years.
HIPPY is designed to fit into the daily life of the family. HIPPY families spend around 10 to 15 minutes a day, each weekday, doing educational activities together over a period of two years.
HIPPY is a fun, free program for families, with activity packs, storybooks and other materials included. The HIPPY curriculum is aligned to the Early Years Learning Framework, the Australian Curriculum and is informed by contemporary learning approaches.
How HIPPY works
HIPPY Tutors and families meet regularly to explore the free HIPPY activity packs and stories. You and your child then spend time together doing the short, fun and easy activities.
Check out more how it works here.
1 hour weekly with a Tutor -
Supporting you to do HIPPY with your child
Tutors are trained parents or carers who have completed the program
A community of support
Get support from people like you — face-to-face or in a group
10–15 minutes a day with your child
Activity packs and storybooks make it easy to read, draw, talk, and dance with your child—there are so many ways to learn
New skills for learning at home over two years
Gain the skills to turn any moment into a learning experience
HIPPY supports you and your child
HIPPY helps build your skills and confidence as your child’s first teacher. HIPPY supports you to do learning activities with your child - Designed to give your child confidence to start school and develop a love of learning that lasts a lifetime.
HIPPY fits around your daily routine
HIPPY is designed to fit into your daily life. HIPPY families spend around 10 to 15 minutes a day, five days a week, doing fun and educational activities together. HIPPY families are supported by Tutors, who schedule regular weekly or fortnightly visits to talk about, and work through, the program activities in the family’s home. As a HIPPY family, you also participate in regular group meetings where you can meet other HIPPY families, learn more about child development and behaviour; and find out about local services, schools, and free local activities.
HIPPY is an opportunity to learn and grow for parents as well as children
Each HIPPY program is staffed by a qualified Coordinator and a team of Tutors. Tutors are usually parents also doing HIPPY at the same HIPPY site as the parents they support. Tutors are paid employees and receive training and support from the Coordinator. Becoming a Tutor offers parents a pathway to training and employment and fosters community leadership.
Your child must be aged 3 as of the next school year, and you live in the provider's catchment area. It is a two year program with intake at age 3. Muloobinba currently provides HIPPY to the Port Stephens and Maitland areas. The HIPPY program supports parents as their child’s first teacher, empowering them to take an active role in their children’s education, development and overall well-being. Through HIPPY, parents guide their young children’s early learning experiences, which helps prepare them for a successful transition to school.
