Starting kids on the right foot with education is always important to every parent, but now parents can start early in their own homes.
Healthy Kids, Inc. has applied for grants to bring a one-on-one learning experience for 3 year olds in Butler County.

Through a grant from the Alabama Department of Education, Healthy Kids can provide a home-visiting service through Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters, or HIPPY.

“This program has a renown reputation for not just benefiting young children, because it helps the parents and the child learn how to do these skills together,” Director Lisa Nimmer said. “Those skills will follow them through their school career. Drop out rates are reduced, high school graduation is improved and a better workforce is improved. Our whole community will benefit from the strength of this program.”

The program is a first-come, first-serve basis with only 20 spots available. Only 3 year olds are accepted into the program because of funding.

“As we grow and get additional funding, we will hopefully be able to run between 60-80 children in the next two to three years,” Nimmer said. “It’s initially going to work with 3 year olds and later to be expanded to 4 and 5 year olds as soon as funding secured.”

Nimmer wanted to emphasize that there is zero cost to parents since Health Kids did receive a grant.

“They’re there to provide them a service at no cost,” Nimmer said. “They’re there to help them and their children. Parents want their children to be successful, and this is something that will help that and them to be able to get those skills.”

Aspects that the instructor will be working on are pre-literacy and pre-numeracy skills with the 3 year olds. Each instructor will enter the home every week and each session will be about 30 minutes starting on the week of February 13 and going until June 1.

The registration deadline is February 9 and parents can find out more information at hippyusa.org or contact Nimmer at 334-371-2104 or healthykidsal@gmail.com.