Cost of Homeschooling Your Little One | ages 5-7
It makes me so sad when I talk to people about homeschool and they're held back by cost. When the "Oh I can't homeschool my kid(s), buying curriculum's and everything my child needs is just too expensive!"
False. Well, technically you can get wrapped up in buying all the fancy curriculum sets and spend a FORTUNE. But-- that doesn't mean your child can't receive a wonderful education at home, WITH YOU, for a super affordable price! Heck-- compared to the money the average family shells out for basic public school education, this is a bargain!
NOTE: I highly, highly, highly recommend not pushing formal/daily schooling until your children are about 7 years old. Start with Better Late Than Early by Dr. Raymond & Dorothy Moore to really learn about the sensitive but important topic. It's amazing because the book was written many years ago, and their fears for pushing kids into formal schooling too young have all come true in today's system.
For the 5 & 6 year old's, four to five days a week I offer the daily activities to my kids -- but it is not mandatory! If they're into it- great! If not- that's ok! Don't fill them with worksheets and exercises -- if anything, spend lots of time reading together! Play! Get outside! Involve them in helping you with as many things as you can.
I school multiple ages at once, we ALL do Bible every day as a family (the littlest can sit and just be still/listen) and we do the family elective, 1 per day. That's a fun activity that the little ones are most always interested to participate in without it being "school".
They don't want to do all the reading lessons, writing practice and math activities? Fine by me. Do not worry! Do not push! It's ok-- let little kids be little kids!
(Preschool curriculum? You won't find it here. That time is play. Helping mom/dad/siblings. Play. No worksheets, no structured art and activities. Read stories, engage, just be. ♥)
By 7 years old we take our daily work more seriously -- but, if there is a huge push back, I relax. I want to foster an eternal love of learning in my children. Forcing this down their throat is the quickest, most sure fire way to ruin that. Even with just one year of "school" every day-- kids have already picked up SO much in the daily reading, working along side you, playing, etc... that they fly through tasks, learning stuff quickly and effortlessly!
Here's my TOTAL cost for 2017/2018 Little's Homeschool Year:
Notebook - something simple for Bible journaling/pictures | $0.50
Pencils - I bought a pack of about 30, I dish out one at a time or they all seem to disappear instantly. | $3.00
Bible - Use what you already have, use an online version (can even download on your phone and it will read to you), or purchase a simple copy for the kiddos HERE. | $0 - $6.00
The Bible Made Easy For Kids - We'll be using this along with our daily Bible study. | $10.00
Handwriting Without Tears - This happens to be the book we have that I had bought through Sonlight, BUT- you can get one on Amazon that covers basic writing practice, get a different book from Dollar Tree, Wal Mart, etc... OR print out free pages/make your own. | $1.00 - $15.00
Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons - I love this book, super easy daily lessons. | $15.00
Charlotte's Web - This will be our first reader this year. Feel free to use this FREE copy, get from your local library, get an online Kindle type reader if preferred or you can order the physical copy too! | $0 - $5.00 A Child's History of the World - This will be our history text for the Littles, there is an option for a new copy, used copy or even a Kindle download through Amazon. If teaching along with a Big Kid or Teen, see below. | $5.00 - $15.00
The Story of the World Volume 1 - If you are teaching multiple ages, we use this book for the Big Kids & Teens. I recommend just buying this book since history is taught as a family elective. It's easy to understand for little ones and can open the pathway to deeper study for the older kids. | $10.00
The Trumpet of the Swan - This is our second reader for the year, New, Used and Kindle versions available as well as your local library. | $2.00 - $5.00
Mr. Popper's Penguins - We'll finish 2017 off with this book, again from your library, or Amazon New/Used/Kindle. | $1.00 - $5.00
Stuart Little - We will read this over weeks 16 through 18. | $1.00 - $5.00
The Story of Dr. Doolittle - Weeks 19 through 23 we'll be reading over this classic. You can also get the PDF for FREE here. | $0 - $6.00
The Mouse and the Motorcycle - We'll read this over weeks 24 to 26. | $1.00 - $5.00
The Jungle Book - We'll read through this classic from weeks 27 to 29. Free online version HERE. | $0 - $6.00
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh - The 2017/2018 school year will finish up with reading this book! | $1.00 - $6.00
TOTAL: up to $49.50 - $107.50
So, ALL year's worth of supplies AND curriculum needs- around $50-100. I love it because you may already have a handful of these items in your house, you can find all the readers at your local library, you get to pick up books as you go so you don't have to purchase it all at once, AND you can really do all this for even less. Super Score-- these books will be used for multiple ages so you don't have to buy complete sets for every single kid. Win!
