Creating great kids with HIPPY Taupō 27 Jan, 2021 12:00 PM 5 minutes to read HIPPY participant Memory Thompson, 3, with a fish she made using fine motor skills, art skills and maths skills. Photo / Supplied Laurilee McMichael is editor of the Taupo & Turangi Weekenderlaurilee.mcmichael@nzme.co.nzTaupoWeekender Just 15 minutes a day, five times a week, is all it takes to make a significant difference to improve your 3-year-old preschooler's future, regardless of his or her background and circumstances. That's the message HIPPY Taupō is spreading to encourage more parents to take up their free, in-home educational programme for 3- and 4-year-olds. HIPPY (Home Interaction Programme for Parents & Youngsters) was originally developed in Israel but has spread around the world. Here, it has been adapted for the New Zealand Te Whāriki early childhood curriculum and incorporates a mixture of English and te reo Māori.