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Lauderdale County: Preschoolers Need Prepping

HIPPY program to help Lauderdale youths with school

By Lisa Singleton-Rickman,  Staff Writer     Matt McKean/TimesDaily
Matt McKean/TimesDaily
HIPPY the Hippopotamus greets children at the Florence-Lauderdale Public Library. Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters will soon be serving families in Lauderdale County after getting a $60,000 grant. More photos at TimesDaily.com.
Bill Griffin isn’t beyond donning a hippo costume if it means bringing attention to a program that helps parents prepare their preschool children for kindergarten.
The program is called HIPPY, Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters, and will soon be serving families in Lauderdale County after getting a $60,000 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission.
For the past four years the program has been operating in Sheffield. Now, through the Lauderdale County Children’s Policy Council, it will expand into Florence and Lauderdale County beginning Jan. 30. The program is partnered with the Florence-Lauderdale Public Library, where special activities and meetings are held regularly.
The premise of the program is simple. Home educators go to participating families’ homes one hour per week and teach the parents of 3- and 4-year-olds how best to equip them for kindergarten.
“Kindergarten is what first grade used to be and it’s quickly becoming what second grade was, so it’s vital that all preschoolers have the opportunity to know those basics before they enter school,” said Griffin, a former kindergarten teacher and principal who coordinates the program.
The Sheffield program is serving 24 families. That program is funded by an Alabama Department of Education grant in the amount of $38,000.
Michelle Randolph and Heather Holman are the home educators who work with families to ready their children.
Randolph went through the program with her own children.
“I’ve seen the value of this program firsthand in my own family but also with those families I work with,” Randolph said.
“One of my children has special needs, and this program especially helps parents of those children in helping them prepare to interact with other children at school. We help these parents know what the school will expect of their children.”
The program also helps parents of kindergartners who may be falling behind in school.
The 30-week program uses a curriculum that begins in October and goes through May. Supplies including books, crayons, scissors and shapes are provided. Special scheduling is available in case of sickness or vacations.
“It’s a really flexible, no-stress environment, but at the same time extremely structured,” Randolph said.
The home educator teaches parents how to work most effectively with children on basic concepts often using household items, such as shoes.
“We’ll take two shoes, the parent’s and the child’s, to teach big and small,” Griffin said. “There are tons of examples we use like that. Though it’s basic stuff, it involves things that the parents just might not have thought of. The result is these children are going to school with a confidence that they belong there. They’re confident in their knowledge and they succeed (academically), not just in kindergarten but throughout school.”
Once a month, parents will meet for group activities at the Florence library. It’s a time to ask questions and share ideas with other parents.
Lee Cox, secretary of the Lauderdale County Children’s Policy Council and a juvenile probation officer, said her group identified the need for school readiness and pursued the HIPPY program for the county.
“We hope the continuance of the program will assist more parents in preparing their pre-school-aged children for a future of learning. Children with strong academic foundations rarely show up on the juvenile delinquency court docket.”
For details, call 256-765-0033.
Lisa Singleton-Rickman can be reached at 256-740-5735 or lisa.singleton-rickman@TimesDaily.com.
For additional photos please visit:  http://www.timesdaily.com/stories/HIPPY-Program,186644

HIPPY the Hippopotamus dances through the Florence Library greeting children and making contact with their parents for the HIPPY Program, a home instruction program for parents of preschool children.

Bill Griffin smiles a spulls on the HIPPY suit he has to wear when meeting children at the Florence Library making contacts with their parents for the HIPPY Program, a home instruction program for parents of preschool children.

Caroline Verrone, 2 1/2, dances wth HIPPY the Hippopotamus at the Florence Library as it greets children and makes contact with their parents for the HIPPY Program, a home instruction program for parents of preschool children.

Caroline Verrone, 2 1/2, gets a hig-five from HIPPY the Hippopotamus at the Florence Library as it greets children and makes contacts with their parents for the HIPPY Program, a home instruction program for parents of preschool children.

Karla King, 6, picks out a book to read with HIPPY the Hippopotamus at the Florence Library as it greets children and makes contacts with their parents for the HIPPY Program, a home instruction program for parents of preschool children.

Karla King, 6, walks with HIPPY the Hippopotamus to a nice spot to read a book at the Florence Library as it greets children and makes contacts with their parents for the HIPPY Program, a home instruction program for parents of preschool children.

Karla King, 6, hugs HIPPY the Hippopotamus at the Florence Library as it greets children and makes contact with their parents for the HIPPY Program, a home instruction program for parents of preschool children.

Jessica Hill reads a book after HIPPY the Hippopotamus greeted the children at the Florence Library. HIPPY also making talked with their parents for the HIPPY Program, a home instruction program for parents of preschool children.

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