Four Frugal Ways to Teach Preschool

Preschool is a time for exploration and discovery. It is your child’s first introduction to the world of education. The focus should be instilling a love for the process while encouraging creativity and critical thinking. Since this first step into education is also the first step into homeschooling it is new territory for both mom and child. The ticket on this voyage does not have to break the bank. You can successfully teach preschool for practically free with these tips.

10-Days of Homeschooling for Free & Frugal

Click here to read Day One: How Our Family Began to Freely Educate

1. Online Resources: You can find preschool lessons, coloring pages and activities for free from these sites:

Chubbie Cubbie’s Preschool and Curriculum

Apples 4 the Teacher

Starfall

Kinderprintables

First-School Preschool Activities and Crafts

For only $20, you can join Enchanted Learning for one year. This is one of my favorite sites for fun printable activities. In the long run it is less expensive than buying several workbooks.

2. Frugal Field Trips: Preschoolers like to keep active. They learn best through play and exploration. Field trips are a great way to engage your child and spark curiosity about the world. A field trip does not have to be expensive to create a learning experience. Since children love to explore nature you discover a new world in your own backyard or by taking your child on walk through a park. A grocery store provides a lesson in nutrition, colors, shapes, and math. Call a local bakery or chocolate shop and ask if you can get a behind the scenes tour. Try visiting your local police department or fire department for a fun field trip.

If you decide to go to the zoo or a museum for a field trip then cut down the cost by keeping an eye out for special offers on ticket sales. In addition, pack your own snacks and drinks. It will be healthier and much cheaper.

3. Frugal School Supplies: I can certainly recommend pricey school supplies. However, none of these things are necessary. Math manipulatives can come in the form of generic Fruit Loops, birthday candles, crayons, Legos, or army men. Take a stroll through your dollar store to find foam letter and number puzzles. Many dollar stores also carry educational supplies such as stickers, paper, art supplies, and even teacher supplies. Prepare in advance and buy supplies during school sales and keep an eye out on clearance items that are seasonal or themed. Craft stores often have clearance sales on seasonal items before the actual holiday or season. Think of ways to use seasonal or clearance items for your current purposes. Christmas glitter does not loose its shine in July. Buy in advance, right as the season is about to end, or after the season as opposed to in the moment for the best savings.

4. Library: The library often has preschool curriculum and activity books. Look to your library before buying. If you want to use books to reinforce lessons or you like a literature based approach then take the books out from the library before purchasing. Books are a large cost of homeschooling so the more books you do not have to pay for the more money you save. In addition, libraries often have programs for homeschoolers and preschoolers at no charge.

Richele McFarlin’s goal is to encourage other homeschooling moms to be confident in their quest to grow hearts and minds for God’s glory. You can find her blogging about her homeschooling adventure and faith at Under the Golden Apple Tree.

For more preschool helps check out these posts from Holy Spirit-led Homeschooling:

• The Early Years of Homeschool

• Our Homeschool Life Schedule with Free Downloads 

• What Does Read Aloud Time Look Like?

• Homeschooling a Two-Year-Old: Create a Sensory Station

• Simple Toddler Activity {Sorting}

This month I’m offering a limited-time freebie for ‘likers” of my Facebook community!
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The 10 Days Series is organized by iHomeschool Network, a collaboration of outstanding homeschool bloggers who connect with each other and with family-friendly companies in mutually beneficial projects. Visit us on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. And of course, click the image below to visit all the 10 Days posts from these homeschool moms of the iHomeschool Network.

You’ll be blessed with tips on how to handle bad days, cultivating curiosity, teaching with Legos, and much much more!

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