Preparing young children to start kindergarten goes beyond buying school clothes and meeting the teacher. Parents are their children’s first teachers, and there are simple and easy ways that parents can help children learn at home before they ever set foot in a classroom.

Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) is a free HISD program that trains instructors to visit parents of three- and four-year-olds in their homes once a week over 30 weeks. HIPPY instructors model instructional activities that encourage learning and development that parents can then practice with their children.

Research shows that students whose parents participate in the program significantly outperform all HISD kindergarten students in reading and math.

HIPPY is currently enrolling parents of three- and four-year-olds in more than 50 school communities, listed here.  Space is limited, so interested families are encouraged to enroll as soon as possible.

To enroll in HIPPY, or for more information, call 713-696-9027 or visit www.houstonisd.org/HIPPY.