Do you find yourself spending more time hustling your children out the front door than you spend enjoying your time together at home? You are not alone. In today’s world, there are so many worthy causes pressing for our time that it becomes very easy to over-commit ourselves with responsibilities and activities. However, when we over schedule ourselves and our children we are not teaching them how to recognize their own limits and prioritize their time.

The Benefits of Scheduling Less

• You will have more time to spend one-on-one time with your children.
• You can spend more time providing your family with a fresh, homemade dinner. You can eat it while sitting down at the table together rather than grabbing a quick sandwich as you load up the car.
• You will have more time to perform better at the responsibilities you choose to keep.
• Downtime. A popular buzz word today, but it is true. We all need time to sit down, relax and enjoy some time doing something that lifts our spirits and rejuvenates our souls.

Think of other benefits unique to your family and write them down so you’ll remember just why you need to say no to one more activity.

Reduce Your Outside Commitments

While it is important to complete the task or responsibility you committed to doing, you can excuse yourself. Any respectable organization will admire and respect your decision to put your family first. Recognize your limitations, decide what you can still do and excuse yourself from the responsibilities that you can not fit into your new schedule. You do not have to explain further than “My family needs more of my time.” You may provide a more in depth explanation if you want, but do not feel obligated to do so. If your schedule later opens up and you want to return, you can do that, too.

Involve Your Children

Involve your children as you learn to schedule less. Talk to them about your reasons for excusing yourself from various activities. Role play with them to help all of you to grow more comfortable with saying no to new responsibilities and activities when they do not fit in your schedules. When your child comes to you with another activity she wants to do, walk her through the steps of determining what will have to go if she takes on a new activity. Also, take a look at what it will require from you to help him keep his commitment.

Send the Right Message

Each time you put your family ahead of outside obligations, you are telling your children that they are very important people in your life. That knowledge will go a long way in helping them to feel confident and secure in your love and create a bond between you that will help you all through the rough times that do come from time to time in parenting. As you help your children to learn how to recognize they abilities & limitations, problem solve, prioritize their time and put family first, you are helping them to become a healthy and successful adults.

Photo credit: ppdigital @ morgueFile

Related posts:

1. The Basics of Scheduling Your Homeschool Day
2. Recovering from Homeschool Burnout
3. Five Principles of Work at Home Scheduling

For many reasons, a parent may feel overwhelmed or exhausted when parenting in general. The same is especially true when the parent is also the full-time teacher. In an ideal world, we would have ample time and energy each day to prepare and implement teach moments, take of the day-to-day parenting, clean the house, get to extra-curricular activities and sports, etc. We would wake each more with a full night’s sleep feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. Undoubtedly, this is not the world where you or I live.

The real world is where the neighbor’s dog barks all night, the kids fight through the entire science experiment, a relative or friend drops in unannounced, or the car breaks down on the way to a field trip. Something is bound to go wrong, distract us or simply disable us for the time being.

Just like adults, kids get burned out, too. They have bad days, sleepless nights, worries and frustrations that wear them down. A unit study that was exciting three weeks ago is not even remotely interesting now. Living in close proximity and spending all day, every day together can cause even the closest of siblings to get on each others nerves.

Tips to Recover from Burnout

Often, parents will catch sight of the fact that they or their children are on the road to burnout and take action to avoid it. When that does not happen, here are some tips to help your family to get back on the right path.

• Talk to your support person. If you do not already have someone in your life who supports your homeschooling efforts, you need to find and establish a trusted friend or family member who knows your goals and reasons for homeschooling and understands that you are simply overwhelmed and exhausted.
• Evaluate what you have been doing and determine if a change is necessary. If it is working, keep at it. If not, find a way to modify it or replace it.
• Ask your children what they believe is working and not working. Their answers may inspire you.
• Evaluate your family’s health. Are you drinking enough water? Taking your vitamins? Eating right? Exercising enough?
• Go to bed early for 2-3 nights in a row. That means the kids, too. Everyone go to bed at the same time.
• Take a day off. Declare a pajama day, go to the beach just to enjoy it, read a book together simply because it’s a great book, go for a walk. Whatever you do, do it to relax, not to educate.
• If you truly must get your school work accomplished, do it somewhere new. Try the library, park, airport, beach, your lawn, a friend’s house, anywhere.

Self-Evaluation

Once life is relatively stable again, evaluate how you got so far into burnout mode. Have you been using the tips for avoiding burnout? Has there been a stressful life event? Have you been taking enough holidays or field trips to break up the day-to-day routine? Are you trying to cram too much into your schedule? Or a lesson plan? Whatever it is that contributed to your feeling so overburdened, you need to find a way to resolve it or you’ll be right back where you started.

Rough times are inevitable. It’s a part of life and it affects our homeschooling efforts. Remember to slow down once in a while and enjoy the journey.

Photo credit: kakisky @ morgueFile

Related posts:

1. Pros and Cons of Homeschool Cooperatives
2. Tips to Avoid Over Scheduling
3. Suddenly Homeschooling

Homeschooling was not one of those things that I always knew that I would do. While I had always loved the idea of homeschooling, I wasn’t sure I could handle the day to day demands of homeschooling while raising a young toddler and preschooler and then there was that all consuming questions of socialization. My oldest son went to kindergarten in the public school system and while he loved it and I liked his teacher, many of the things he learned were below his skill level and some things, I found, had to be re-taught at home after school. Life events during the summer between kindergarten and first grade gave our family reason to reconsider our schooling choices and in the end we settled on a happy medium – homeschooling through a charter school program.

Why We Decided to Homeschool

Shortly before my son finished his kindergarten year, our family went through some drastic changes. My husband lost his job, I found myself unexpectedly pregnant, our baby was born too early and passed away not long after birth, we sold our house, moved into my parent’s basement, and my husband graduated with his MBA.

I found myself dragging my feet enrolling my son in what would have been his new school. After experiencing so much change in such a short period of time, I was hesitant to put my son in a new school only to pull him out in a few months when my husband had (hopefully) found a new job.  I wasn’t satisfied with the quality of the education my son had received in public school – not disgusted with it, just not satisfied – and I found that as we got closer to the start of the school year, sending my 6 year old away for the entire day was really unpleasant to me. We planned to travel quite a bit as my husband looked for work and had no idea how that would work with a child in school.

After extensive thought, we decided that homeschooling was really the best fit for our situation even though it was not something we had seriously considered before. We felt the experiences he would have traveling and receiving individualized education would provide more of a benefit than spending  a few months in a classroom before switching schools.

But What About Socialization?

The question of how to provide enough social experiences for a homeschooled child was our top concern. We had no doubts about our ability to provide a quality educational experience, especially with help from a charter program, but socialization was a worry. My son has always been a little on the shy side, although I finally got smart and stopped actually telling people he was shy when he was 3 and told me he couldn’t play on the playground while other kids were there because he was shy. He did well in kindergarten but still struggled with his confidence at the end of the year.

I thought back to my own school experience as we made our decision to homeschool because shyness has always been something I’ve had to fight against as well, so I really felt for my son and I saw my school experience in a new light. I remembered bullies who made me dread going to school, peer pressure that made me feel like nobody, teachers who convinced me that I would never amount to anything and I realized that my public school experience had done as much, if not more to hurt my socialization than it had to help it.

I talked to a few of the homeschoolers I knew in the area and they directed me to homeschool groups, activities, co-ops, and classes. After only a few days I was overwhelmed by the number of options for socializing that my kids had as homeschoolers. We joined a homeschool soccer league, attended homeschool field trips, and scheduled homeschool park dates but I was still concerned that my son was not receiving the same daily interaction he would have had with other kids in the public school system. I quickly found that I didn’t need to worry. My previously shy son had discovered on his own that if he wanted friends he needed to take the initiative and take advantages of the opportunities he had to spend time with other kids. Now as we near the end of the school my son confidently walks into a group of kids of any age, tells them his name, and incorporates himself into the group seamlessly. This year I have seen things I never would have expected: my son knocking on a door to invite a neighbor’s child he had never met to play, my son jumping in to organize group activities with a group of kids he doesn’t know at a park, and my friend developing loyal friendships with the children he sees on a regular basis. Homeschooling has provided a social education of a different kind than public school could offer but my children know how to make friends and treat others with kindness. Isn’t that really what socialization is all about?

The First Time Homeschooling Experience

Homeschooling is a full time job. I knew going in that it would be hard work, but I had no idea the discipline that it would really take, day in and day out. After my son spend his kindergarten year mostly in school and playing with friends after school, I loved the chance to strengthen our bond and get to know each other all over again through homeschooling. Just like any other job though, some days are good, some days are bad. I think it is in the nature of parenthood to always question whether you are doing the right thing for your children. Children are always changing, so we, as parents, need to constantly decide whether what we are doing is working or not.

My children have had some wonderful experiences through homeschooling this year that they would not have had in the public school system. My kids learned about the desert by going on a multi-day camping trip in Moab, Utah and working through the education kit provided by the National Parks. We learned about the ocean as a family by visiting tide pools in southern California, going whale watching on an ocean boat, and exploring the ocean shore as a family. We learned about ancient Egypt by studying and reading, but also by talking to a grandfather who had spent time in Egypt and had a large collection of items from Egypt that my children could see and touch.

When I tell people that I am homeschooling my children, I get a lot of mixed reactions. I’ve had people tell me what a wonderful education my kids must be getting by having one-on-one attention from a mom with previous teaching experience and I’ve had people tell me I’m going to turn my kids into nerds.  Overall, I’ve been surprised at how accepting most people have been of our decision and we trust that we have made the right choice for our family at this time in our lives. As a first time homeschooler, it has definitely been a learning process but we’ve learned along the way that you can really create a homeschool that is customized to fit the needs of your families and the individual development of your children. At this point, I don’t know if we will homeschool forever. I guess, like everything else that comes with parenting, we’ll take it one day at a time.

Related posts:

1. Suddenly Homeschooling
2. Frugal Homeschool Field Trips
3. Could You Teach Your Children At Home?

Congratulations Susan Mayer! Susan is the winner of the Magic School Bus Science Kit Giveaway!

My children and I recently had the opportunity to The Magic School Bus Going Green science kit courtesy of The Young Scientists Club. The kit is a collection of hands-on science experiments for intended for children ages 5-8. It arrives with most of the supplies necessary for each experiment. You will need to supply such things as newspaper and acetone, but most families may already have those items on hand without requiring an extra purchase.

If you need a great science activity to keep your kids occupied during their holiday break from school or a fun activity for homeschoolers, you will definitely want to check out The Young Scientists Club.

Adult Supervision

With this age group, all of the experiments should be adult supervised–both for the guidance but also for the safety of your young scientist. A few experiments, however, do require an adult to perform a few tasks, such as running the blender or using a hot stove. So parents, do plan on completing the experiments with your child.

Instruction Guide

The colorfully illustration instruction booklet is printed on thick, glossy paper similar to a high-quality magazine thereby allowing it to withstand the rigors of getting messy. It is set up similar to the Magic School Bus books with the characters talking in bubbles, notes, and illustrations.

Experiments Use the Scientific Method

There are twelve experiments in the Magic School Bus Going Green science kit. Some of the experiments build upon each other therefore some require the end result of a previous experiment. The amount of time required for each experiment varies from a few minutes to a few weeks so be sure to read the requirements and plan accordingly.

Each experiment is introduced by a Magic School Bus character, who gives an explanation of the experiment and shares some basic facts. Using the Scientific Method as an outline for experiments, each one begins with a question to be answered. The young scientist is then asked to make a hypothesis based on the information available.

Once you are ready to begin, there is a list of the materials necessary and an outline of the methods necessary to complete the experiment. Each experiment ends with a place to record the results of the experiment and for the young scientist to write down his conclusions based on the results.

Space is available in the instruction booklet to record all the information or you can have your young scientist(s) write on another sheet of paper or in a notebook.

Extending the Lessons

Three of my four children are beyond the target age for the Magic School Bus Go Green science kit, but they still enjoyed their experience. Homeschoolers can easily extend this kit by a more in-depth study of the science around each experiment and supplementing with field trips.

More Kits Available

The Young Scientists Club is not limited to Magic School Bus kits! Their catalog also includes Nature Series, The Scientist Series, Adventure Science Series, and more.

You can visit their website at The Young Scientists Club.

Enter to Win

Win your choice of the following kits from The Young Scientists Club – School Bus Going Green, Magic School Bus Diving into Slime, or Science on a Gardening Adventure. This giveaway is open to the U.S. and will end on December 30, 2009.

Enter the giveaway by commenting on this post.

Please see our site’s Terms and Conditions for a complete list of our contest and giveaway rules.

In compliance with the new FTC Guild lines, please note that this is a sponsored post.  I was given a copy of the Magic School Bus Going Green science kit courtesy of The Young Scientists Club to test and review free of charge.  However, I was not paid for the review and the opinions are my own.

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If you find yourself spontaneously homeschooling your children mid-school year, you may be wondering what to do and where to begin. First of all, take a deep breath! No matter the age of your child (or children), no matter the reason you chose homeschooling, you have time to take a deep breath and research your options. Time is on your side.

While You Adjust to Homeschooling

Now that you have your children at home during the day, get out. Go to the park, go to museums, visit with other homeschooling families, go to the library. Go and enjoy this time together simply absorbing the world around you as you begin your family’s new lifestyle. You will be surprised by the educational opportunities that will seemingly fall into your lap, and it will do your family good to spend this time getting reacquainted.

Read Together

Go to the library and pick up a few books to read aloud to your children, and have them pick out a few books to read on their own. If you’re not sure where to begin, the text of many children’s picture books are written at high school or adult leveled reading. Choose several from various genres and with a spectrum of illustration techniques. You can spend time admiring the artwork, you can ask for predictions as to what may happen next, have your older children read to your younger children, act out the story, make up alternate endings. The sky is the limit on what you can do with just one children’s picture book.

Find a Local Homeschool Group

In our high-tech age, you may already be a member of one or more online homeschool forums. They are a fabulous resource for ideas and support, but they are not a replacement for “in real life” human interaction with like-minded people. Though this may be much easier to do in more diverse and large communities, if you live in an area with very few homeschoolers, even just one other homeschooling family can provide the support and human contact you and your children need.

Before You Buy Curriculum

If you have not already researched some of the possible instructional methods and educational philosophies, now is great time, but don’t feel obligated to research them all at once. You have plenty of time for researching. Right now, focus on the basics. What are the laws in your state, county, school district? What is your child’s learning style? Why did you choose to homeschool? Does your child have any special needs? How do you want to approach your family’s daily learning? With the answers to these questions, you will be well on your way to successfully homeschooling your children.

Suggested Resources

A to Z Home’s Cool
Leaping from the Box
The First Year of Homeschooling Your Child : Your Complete Guide to Getting off to the Right Start by Linda Dobson
Honey for a Child’s Heart by Gladys Hunt
Honey for a Teen’s Heart by Gladys Hunt

Related posts:

1. Homeschooling for Beginners
2. Should Your Child Homeschool?
3. Pros and Cons of Homeschool Cooperatives

Homeschool co-ops offer many benefits to homeschooling families: a support system, socialization, and educational classes- just to name a few. However, as with any good thing, there are some drawbacks to them as well. Explore both the positive and negative aspects of homeschool cooperatives, before becoming involved, so that you can be confident that your decision is the right one for your family.

The Pros

Families often turn to homeschool cooperatives as a way to supplement their home education curriculum, and to socialize with others in the homeschool community. There are many benefits to co-ops- for both mom and kids.

• Classes that many families find difficult to teach at home, such as: biology, algebra, art, physical education, drama, and so forth.
• Classes at a fraction of the cost of taking the same courses through a community college, or other avenue. This is especially so when there is a heavy emphasis on parental participation.
• A support system, and accountability, for the homeschooling family.
• Provides socialization for both mom and students with other like-minded, homeschooling families, in a controlled environment where the negative aspects of peer pressure may be less problematic.
• Various other activities in addition to classes may be offered, such as: field trips, special speakers, chance to participate in Christmas and spring programs, plays, support group meetings, moms night out, and even prom nights.

The Cons

As with anything in life, there is a good side to homeschool co-ops and a bad side. Before becoming involved in a cooperative, it is wise to consider the potential negative aspects of participation.

• Cooperatives are time-consuming, especially true the more frequently they meet. A once-a-week co-op takes a day away each week from your other academic studies. It is also common for the co-op curriculum to take priority over your own home education studies in order to keep up.
• It can be difficult to re-focus your children on their homeschool studies, in order to finish out the school week, when co-op classes are held mid-week as opposed to meeting on a Friday.
• Cooperatives can be draining, particularly for mom, and particularly when intense parental involvement is required.
• Some children don’t function well in a co-op environment. Boys, in particular, may find it difficult to sit still for long periods of time, especially young ones.
• The addition of other activities can add greatly to the stress, and pressure to perform, on the entire family. Even Dad, who may not be actively involved in the cooperative may feel stressed by the extra demands.

A Word about Peer Pressure

Peer pressure is everywhere, even among homeschoolers. Homeschool moms are not immune either. Moms often experience pressure to use a specific method or curriculum; to schedule or not to schedule; to be intensely involved in their child’s schooling, or take a more relaxed, hands-off approach.

Then there is the pressure, however well-intentioned, in other aspects of family life: discipline methods, family planning, even which minivan to purchase. It can be difficult to do what is right for your own family when other respected, and more experienced, mothers are suggesting you should try doing things their way.

Making the Decision

Carefully weigh your decision to participate in a homeschool co-op, and talk it over with your husband. While cooperatives offer many positive experiences for your children, and yourself, it is also a commitment of time and energy.

If you are interested in a specific co-op group, inquire about visiting on day when classes are in session to observe how they function. Find out exactly what is required from you and your children; and ask for a full disclosure of all fees involved, or anticipated.

In the end, regardless of the decision you make, don’t feel guilty. Do what is best for your family, and your home education program. Your kids will turn out just fine!

Related Articles:

The Basics of Scheduling Your Homeschool Day

Written by Crystal Killion

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2. Pros and Cons of Choosing Daycare Close to Work
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The zoo is always a fun place to take the whole family but it can be made even more fun with a little bit of creativity. Consider creating a scavenger hunt for your children to complete while at the zoo (this can also be done at the aquarium or museum). You can visit the zoo’s website before you go and find out more about what they have to offer. This will help you create your scavenger hunt.

For really young children you may want to just list the animals and help them cross them off the list as they find them. For children who are a bit older you may want to include some hints rather than using the animal’s names. An example would be, “I’m really big and have large ears and a long trunk that I use to pick things up. What am I?”.  You can increase the difficulty of the questions based upon the ages of the children. If you have numerous children of different ages in your group you may want to create a short hunt for each child or create one long one for the whole family with clues of different levels.

Below you will find a sample scavenger hunt for the Lowery Park Zoo in Tampa Florida. This would be ideal for a family with children of different ages. Remember, the zoo is a fun trip, but it can be educational too!

Lowery Park Zoo

1. I am well known for my use of tools. Genetically I am a very close relative to humans. What am I? (Chimpanzee)
2. I am “America’s bird”. My population has been reduced greatly due to land development. I am a bird of prey with a wingspan of 7-8 feet. What am I? (Bald Eagle)
3. I am really big and have large floppy ears and a long trunk that I use to pick things up. What am I? (Elephant)
4. I am a water dwelling mammal. I have a large flat tail that is rounded. I have tiny limbs in the front that are like paddles. I am very large, about ten feet long and about 1,200 pounds. What am I? (Manatee)
5. I am the official mammal of the state of Florida. I am a really big cat. I am a predator and have very strong jaws, great vision and hearing and an awesome sense of smell. What am I? (Panther)
6. I have scaly skin, beady eyes and long snout. I have very sharp teeth and a strong jaw. I like the water but I enjoy the land too. I have four legs but I am very close to the ground. I have sharp nails and a powerful tail. What am I? (Alligator)
7. I am black and white and sometimes said to be wearing a tuxedo. I waddle from side to side as I walk. I like to swim and eat fish. I am a bird but I don’t fly. What am I? (Penguin)
8. I look a lot like a horse but I have black and white stripes. What am I? (Zebra)
9. I am a very large mammal, second in size to the elephant. I am brownish gray with leathery skin. I have a single horn which sticks out of my forehead. What am I? (Rhinoceros)
10. I have a very long neck that is useful for eating leaves off of tall trees. I stand on four long thin legs with knobby knees. What am I? (Giraffe)

ttp://www.lowryparkzoo.com/index.html
by Nicole E. Nappi

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We all have just twenty-four hours in our day to get everything done.  Moms who home educate their children have the challenge of adding teaching, grading, recordkeeping, and other educational activities to their already busy lives.

Creating a schedule, or routine, will help you accomplish all the things you need to do each day, and even have time for the activities you enjoy.  Life will seem less chaotic with a plan in place for managing your homeschool day.
 

Three Basic Types of Schedules

There are three basic styles of scheduling:

• Time-specific schedule – activities are accomplished at a specified time of day.
  For instance:
  Rise and shine at 7:00
  Breakfast at 7:30
  English at 8:00
  Math at 8:30
  and so forth.
• Block schedule – tasks are arranged within a specified block of time in which they are to be done. 
  An example of this would be: 
  9:00 AM to 12:00 PM: Morning Devotions, Math, and Language Arts
  1:00 PM to 3:00 PM: Quiet Time
  3:00 PM to 5:00 PM: Projects and Afternoon Chores.
• Routine – tasks are given a general time of day to be completed.  For example:  get dressed, make bed, brush teeth, eat breakfast, and start laundry are all part of a morning routine that begins upon waking up in the morning.

Find What Works for Your Family

There is no one right or wrong way to schedule your day.  Some families thrive on a strict, time-specific schedule with everything clearly laid out, changing activities frequently.  This is often true for children with special needs like Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD).  Moms who have a child who dawdles may find this style of schedule helpful as well.  Assigning a specific task to a set time can help keep these types of children on task and focused.
Block schedules, and routines, work for many families because it gives them the flexibility they need to accomplish the tasks of the day, and, yet it accommodates the various outside activities they are involved in, and the frequent interruptions that tend to occur within their household.

Putting a Schedule Together

These steps will help you organize your day:

1. List everything that you, and your children, need to do each day.  Include school subjects, chores, outside commitments, personal grooming, and so forth.
2. Write beside each activity the amount of time needed to accomplish each task.
3. Write down the parts of your day that you typically do at the same time, such as: breakfast 7:00, school 9:00, lunch 12:00, ect.  Regardless of whether you employ at time-specific schedule, a block schedule, or a routine, this gives you a framework to fill out with the rest of your day’s tasks.
4. Finally, decide how specific you want to be with your schedule.  This will determine how you put it all together.  A time-specific schedule will need definite times attached to each activity.  A block schedule, or routine, will need to have the tasks divided into logical time frames, and use a few reoccurring activities, such as a meal time, as benchmarks for staying on target.

Remember, a schedule is a tool, not your master.  If your schedule isn’t working, try something different- and keep trying until you find what works for you.

Written by Crystal Killion

Related posts:

1. Tips to Avoid Over Scheduling
2. Pros and Cons of Homeschool Cooperatives
3. Five Principles of Work at Home Scheduling

Field trips are a great way to enhance your child’s education, and break the monotony of your daily routine.  However, once the curriculum is bought and all the school supplies are purchased, there may be little left in the budget for extra-curricular activities.  Don’t let a tight budget keep you from enjoying hands-on educational experiences.

Family Memberships to a Zoo or Museum

Consider purchasing a family membership to a zoo or museum.  A family membership may seem expensive initially; however, it usually pays for itself after just a couple of visits. If you go several times during the course of a year, the membership really pays off!

There are usually other benefits to a membership as well, like:  special events for members only; discounts on tickets or admission fees to related museums and events; and newsletter subscriptions.  Another added bonus of a family membership is that if times get especially tight, your family can still enjoy a fun outing together.

Use a one-year membership to do an in-depth study of the subject matter that the museum covers.  For instance, for an art museum membership you could study the:

• Different eras in art history and historical facts from that time
• Lives of the famous, and not-so-famous, artists throughout history
• Lives of the local artists on display at the museum
• Various mediums used- water color, pencil, oil paint, mosaics, and so forth

The possibilities are limited only by your imagination!

You can save even more money by asking for zoo or museum memberships as a gift from family and friends for Christmas, and other such occasions.  It’s the gift that gives all year and makes a lasting memory!

Local Sporting Events, Plays, & Recitals

Tickets to the ballet, or a NFL game may not be in your budget, but you can still enjoy sporting and cultural events by staying local.  Check out your area high schools, community colleges, and community theaters for plays, recitals and sporting events- right in your own neighborhood.  It is even more fun when your children know someone who is in the show.  Not only will you save money by paying only a minimal cover charge to attend, not to mention what you’ll save on gas, but you will also be supporting your community by staying local.

Join a Homeschool Field Trip Group

There are homeschool groups whose main purpose is to take field trips, usually once or twice a month.  Often these field trips are determined with a homeschooling family’s limited budget in mind, and have the added bonus of being able to take advantage of school group discounts.  Most groups give you the ability to opt-out if a field trip doesn’t interest you or is cost-prohibitive.

The hands-on learning opportunities that field trips provide are invaluable.  These frugal field trip ideas will help you add some pizzazz to your student’s home education program without breaking the bank!

By Crystal Killion

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1. No Cost Homeschool Field Trips
2. Home Education on a Dime : Free and Low-Cost Homeschool Curriculum Resources
3. Homeschooling for Beginners

Field trips are an educational and fun way to supplement your child’s homeschool curriculum, but can be expensive. If you are looking for ways to take advantage of the fascinating learning experiences field trips can add to your home education program, without breaking the bank, here are some ideas that will cost you virtually nothing.

Take a Nature Walk

Nature walks are fun, relaxing, and educational. They are also terrific exercise, so you can count them as physical education, too! The great thing about nature walks, is that you can use the outdoor areas you have available to you. Stroll around your neighborhood, go to a nearby park or nature trail, drive out to a country road and find a field or woodsy area to walk in. It doesn’t really matter where you go- the point is to learn from nature.

Another great thing about nature walks, besides that fact that they are extremely cheap, is that they can be impromptu or planned to go along with what you are already studying in school. Are you studying insects in science? Go on a hike and collect some insects to study at home under a microscope, or take along a magnifying glass for on-the-spot examination.

Your students may wish to carry a sketch pad (art), or a camera (photography) to record their discoveries. So much can be learned just by taking a nature walk!

Local Businesses & Government Offices

Local businesses, factories, and government offices are an invaluable source for educational field trips that typically charge nothing, or next to nothing, for tours.

Some ideas are:

• Post office
• Police Department
• Fire Station
• Hospital
• Water Treatment Facility
• Judicial Center – watch an actual court proceeding while you’re there!
• Veterinarian Clinic
• Doctor or Dentist Office
• Bakery
• Working farm, ranch, or dairy farm
• Restaurant
• Grocery Store
• Butcher
• Greenhouse
• Local Radio, Newspaper or TV Station
• Factories
• Cement Plant
• Community College
• Bank
• Library
• Your husband’s place of work, or your own

Be sure to call ahead to make arrangements- don’t just show up, and be respectful of their time and property.

Virtual Field Trips

The dawn of the world wide web has opened the doors to the entire world! From the comfort of your home you can:

• Visit The British Museum’s Ancient Egypt Gallery
• Peek inside the CIA
• Go diving in the Great Barrier Reef
• Explore life during World War II
• Even take a virtual dinosaur tour at the Smithsonian!

There are an endless collection virtual field trips, on nearly every subject imaginable, right at your finger tips.

More virtual field trip resources:

Utah Education Network
Internet4Classrooms
Teacher Tap

A tight budget shouldn’t stop you and your children from enjoying your home education lifestyle. These no cost field trips will give your students a rich, exciting, and memorable homeschool experience.

Related Articles:

Frugal Homeschool Field Trips
Home Education on a Dime

Written by Crystal Killion

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1. Frugal Homeschool Field Trips
2. Home Education on a Dime : Free and Low-Cost Homeschool Curriculum Resources
3. Pros and Cons of Homeschool Cooperatives