Low-Cost Ways to Help Your Children Learn at Home
By: Guest Writter - Laura Pearson
Some kids love school, while others struggle: it’s not always the best learning environment, which is why it’s important to have tactics that will help your child learn at home when necessary. Whether your child is struggling with a specific subject or if they want to expand their knowledge into new subjects, you can help them by coming up with fun budget-friendly projectsat home or by expanding their educational tools, such as investing in a computer or a tablet.
Head into the mountains
Spending some time in nature -- particularly the Little Belt Mountains -- can introduce you and your family to a number of wonderful educational opportunities. Not only can they get first-hand experience with the local wildlife, but they can also explore native plants and natural formations the area has to offer. Additionally, as Native Planet explains, exploring the mountains can showyour children the value of exploring off the beaten path, the beauty of nature and silence, and how much we genuinely own nature as a whole.
As much as we’d like to, we can’t spend every waking moment in the mountains. Thankfully, there are many ways you can develop an exciting and engaging learning experience within the comfort of your very own home! And if you’re itching to virtually explore the Little Belts, you can always use some of the webcams found on the website!
Science at home
For some children, science can be a tough subject to crack. If your child is having trouble enjoying science in school, consider a few at-home at-home learning activities you can do with items lying around the house, such as making a hot air balloon, planting a garden, or digging into some backyard biology. To make a hot air balloon, find a dark-colored garbage bag and have your child fill it with air byrunning around the backyard. When it’s full, tie it off to trap the air inside. Let it sit in the sun for a few hours, and watch as the balloon begins to rise on its own. You can explain the physics of the phenomenon to your awestruck child, and which will help them get excited about the subject.
Another great activity is to plant a garden with your child. Start by having your child keep all the seeds from fruit and vegetables they eat throughout the week, and help them choose which seeds are most likely to thrive in your environment. Help your child to plant the seeds in your garden, and go through each step slowly so they understand how seeds grow and turn into food. They’ll love seeing the (literal) fruits of their labor and it may spark an interest in the natural world.
Backyard biology is another great project: grab a magnifying glass and scope out the corners of your backyard. Have your child draw what they see, and then help them identify species of bugs, plants, and trees. It will open their eyes to the science that exists all around them, and will likely help pique their passion for the subject.
Tools for education
While backyard experiments are fun, there are also tools that will help your child thrive in difficult subjects or expand their general knowledge at home. Consider investing in supplies to outfit your child’s study space at home. To stretch your dollars, shop at a retailer such as Staples where you can take advantage of online coupons, promo codes, and cashback offers to help you save. Another great educational tool for kids is a tablet. Tablets are lighter and more portable than computers, and can often provide several great learning apps that help children dig into tough subjects such as chemistry or math. They’re slim, easy to store, and there are many options out there depending on your child’s age.
There are even tablets designed especially for kids, so you don’t need to worry about durability or a too-adult experience. For example, the Vankyo MatrixPad is great for children that are ages five to 10, while the Apple iPad will be a tool your older child can use for many years. Be sure to compare prices; if you’re on a budget, the Amazon Fire Kids Tablet is cheaper while still offering plenty of educational and fun features.
If you’re trying to find ways to help further your child’s education at home or helping them tackle a difficult subject such as science, consider budget-friendly experiments to do in your backyard. You can also introduce new and helpful tools into your home such as a computer or tablet—just be sure to look for online coupons before you dip too much into your household budget.