DIY Preschool Education on a Budget!

Here are just some examples of what we have been doing and helpful links to some free online resources!

We bought a family pass to the zoo last year and the girls had a blast looking and learning about the animals there.  A zoo pass isn’t necessary, though, as you can see plenty of birds, bugs and other wildlife just by walking around the park – not to mention the beautiful trees and plants to learn about!  Kids really benefit from hands on learning.  When we went to the zoo we not only looked at and talked about the animals, but we also brought some crayons and paper to actually draw the animals that we saw.  I also let them pick one “souvenir” (the leaf) as seen in the picture below.   I also had a “learn to draw” book that we brought along because it had pictures of animals to draw in it which made it easy for my 4 year old to be able to draw what she saw.  This isn’t necessary, but it was helpful for us.

There are so many great (FREE) resources online.  For worksheets the one I have been using frequently is found at http://www.tlsbooks.com/preschoolworksheets.htm .  Here is an example picture of one that my 4 year old did the other day… Notice that I do grade her work! 

Another great resource online is found at www.starfall.com  This site is actually the girls’ favorite website.  It is chock full of phonics and beginning reading.  Make sure that if you use websites like these you help your child as they navigate through it.  For best results I always become a part of the learning process, but I also have noticed that with Starfall after they have mastered the lesson then they can do it on their own.   

For an easy math lesson, just start counting and sorting anything that you can find.  We  primarily use the counting bears, but I have heard of others using M&M’s and any other type of colored candy to also sort and count.  Just be creative and make it fun! 

We also do Bible lessons that I find online.  Here is an example of  when we learned about creation.  I found a mobile at http://www.dltk-bible.com/ and a recipe for fruit kabobs (both pictured below).  This made for a great hands-on time of learning about God’s creation.

Preschool lessons can be as inexpensive, easy and creative as you make them.  Preschoolers will benefit from you taking the time to help them learn, and you will love it just as much!