Budget-Friendly Ideas To Enhance Your Child’s Learning
February 12, 2019I’ve spoken with people who have a specific type of schooling in mind for their young and toddler age children that doesn’t always exactly match what they are actually being taught in school. They are looking for ways to incorporate more learning activities, without impacting their budget too much.
If you are a parent that likes the idea of your children learning another language, learning to read early, fine-tuning their math skills, etc., and are looking for budget friendly options to support their learning at home or outside of the classroom, here are some ideas our planner team shared that could help.
Want them to learn another language?
If you speak more than one language, a perfectly free option is to simply speak your other language to your child instead of paying for multilingual preschool or language classes. My colleague Cynthia spoke French to her kids until they went to kindergarten so that they had exposure to the language. She also suggested joining or creating a foreign language play group, as well as playing foreign language CDs in the car and watching DVDs together that are in whatever language you want your toddler to learn.
Structured activities (i.e. sports groups and other learning groups) too costly?
Cynthia also suggested simple activities that make an impact like taking your toddler on a science walk every day instead of paying for structured activities. Jump in the mud, watch the digger at construction sites, throw sticks in the river, pick up bugs, etc.
Looking for a customized learning program?
Consider a home education program. Cyrus likes IXL Learning, which allows you to create a personal learning experience for kids of all ages for as little as $10 per month if you go with their more basic options. They cover various topics like math, science, Spanish and social studies. Another perk is that IXL’s questions automatically adjust to the level of difficulty for your child.
Cyrus also found Meet the Sight Words videos and flash cards to be very helpful for his child. You can check those out as well as other educational tools offered by the Preschool Prep Company.
Want them to learn with others but can’t find a school you like?
How about organizing a homeschool/preschool cooperative with other like-minded parents? Cynthia had a friend that went this route and as her kids grew older, it turned into an actual school. With this group, each parent could be responsible for one part of the program (i.e. math or science), so that it’s not too overwhelming. You could also rotate houses or use a church or community center.
Budget friendly ways to support your kids’ education exist. Just find the one that works best for your family.