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dolorsofmary
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| Posted: Jan 29 2010 at 4:00pm | IP Logged
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I couldn't put it all in the title and I didn't know how else to rephrase it.
My son is only 4.5 yrs old. But he is an only child. I would love to blessed with more but this is apparently what God wants. He is very very social and we do have a weekly playdate with another 4 yr old when everyone is not sick and a monthly homeschooling preschool playdate and we do have a homeschooling rollerskating very cheap once a month too. We go to the library at least once a week and do kiddie activities there for free which are great! We've been doing things at a local nature center for children/petting zoo/barn, etc. cheap and fun and has classes for my son's age and he loves them and its inexpensive. So why am I complaining.
I guess I have a couple of questions that I would like your take on so I can learn from your wisdom and maybe save some dough/frustration in the process.
So like everything is peaceful in paradise, right. So why mess with it? Well my son loves to run and well there aren't a lot of areas where he can run safely (well he can outrun me so there is a problem) and its cold and we are cooped up in the winter here in NJ. So there is a soccer program for tots aged 5 and up with the homeschooling group but my son is too young for it. There is a homeschool game activity for boys but he's too young for that too. So we signed him up for the tot soccer program up the street from us. He had his first class and it went well. It was just generic, anyone can go as long as they pay the money. We also introduced my son and ourselves :) to the Nutcracker this christmas (video only, we could not afford tickets) and my son LOVES it! He wants to be the Nutcracker and he loves music and dance so much so we found a pre-ballet/tap class that is reasonably priced at the tot soccer place and the teacher's son is in his class so that's really cool. And we just happened to walk by this one karate store that was having class for 4 yr old little boys and my son was invited in for a free intro class and he loved it. Its a lot of money. And so do you get where I'm going with this. I almost forgot. In the summer we join our pool. We LOVE it! ITs costly though. And then there are swim lessons. We do it though because it is a life skill. Right now he is in tot soccer, he had his free intro ballet/tap class and he starts his pre-ballet/tap class next week. I'm thinking of not doing karate and keeping the nature center stuff because I realized that in all these classes my son would be told what to do and at least at the nature center he can just BE and play and make friends. Karate can be great for discipline but at his age the teacher wants one on one classes (the other 4 yr olds were in a class because the moms know each other and they started together and so its an established class) which are expensive. So I live and die by a budget and after adding everything up soccer, ballet/tap, karate, and swimming and pool membership was HALF THE HOMESCHOOLING BUDGET FOR THE YEAR! Of course we could have maybe soccer in the fall, ballet/tap for winter, karate for the spring and swimming in the summer. But then we'd have to give up the nature center. If we trade out Karate for the nature center we definitely save a nice chunk of change. I wonder if all of this is too much though for my son. I really think he'll love it though. Its not early in the day, he'll love it. THe budget is for curriculum/field trips/extra curricular activities, anything educational. I'm scared about spending 1/2 of the homeschool money on extracurricular too. Your advice please. Been down this road? Thank you!
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LisaR
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| Posted: Jan 29 2010 at 4:39pm | IP Logged
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I suppose you should look at these activities either as A: important and vital parts of his education or
B: extracurriculars
if you are looking at it as "A" then really, there is nothing wrong with however much of the budget you want to spend.
if it is "B", then you might want to scale back.
I have super active boys, who were running faster than me at that age, too!
We've always looked at year-round sports for them as a vital and integral part of their education, and believe me, the benefits abound far more than wearing them out!
However, for another family, this might be 15th on their list of importance, and it would be looked at as an extra.
We are a bit practical minded, too.
I prefer activities/sports that don't require lots of equipment, and that are fairly easy to practice on at home/at the park/pick-up game with friend as well. sometimes they end up being cheaper, too!! 
__________________
Lisa
dh Tim '92
Joseph 17
Paul 14
Thomas 11
Dominic 8
Maria Gianna 5
Isaac Vincent 9/21/10! and...
many little saints in heaven!
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: Jan 29 2010 at 4:41pm | IP Logged
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I think I would slow down.. not because of the money but because little kids can be terribly enthusiastic.. but then end up overwhelmed. I do like the idea of doing one activity per season. But I find that it works better for our family to take one season off. When the kids can just play outside. We actually take winter off.. but then we heat with wood so there's chopping and carrying and stacking wood and shoveling snow and sledding and building snowmen.. so that we find we do get enough activity in the winter.
In my experience it is the outside classes.. extra curricular or not that will cost the largest percentage of a budget anyway. Just one activity here like swim team/lessons for our family is easily more than all of the curriculum. I don't have a problem with that. Paying people for their time will always cost more than materials to do it yourself.
__________________
Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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mom2mpr
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| Posted: Jan 29 2010 at 4:45pm | IP Logged
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Yup.
I've been down that road.
At that age I could see half the homeschool budget for active activities.
I think I was on the Sonlight Preschool forum at that time and a few ladies mentioned a research article that stated physical activity at these ages builds brain connections and improves academic performance down the road. So, we read SL books, when we could and ran, most of the time.
We splurged on gymnastics. I needed the break from being "active mom." I ran ALL day with this child. It was worth every penny for me. We lived in the south at that time, thank God  , so were at the playground and involved in other active things that were free. We didn't have a huge budget for homeschooling at that time.
I wouldn't pay for non-active activities. It was the reason he did not go to preschool. Why was I going to pay someone to do crafts and coop my kid up for 3 hours so I would have to run harder when he came home?
It was how I had to get through that time. And when I was pregnant and he was 4 years old!! Whooeeee, I paid for gymnastics 2x/week and we bought one of those little Intex blow up pools. Dh was traveling overseas and I was desparate for energy release, and a nap
Just so you know, that ds is now 12 and very athletic and can sit and do schoolwork now
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Anne, married to dh 16 years!, ds,(97), Little One (02), and dd (02).
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Mackfam
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| Posted: Jan 29 2010 at 5:34pm | IP Logged
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Hi dolorsofmary,
I'm so glad you asked this question because I think it's one that a lot of families face. There are a rich variety of opportunities that present themselves to home educating families. They each have definite value. Having said that, I'd slow way down.
When there is so much going on there is little time to quietly enjoy and relax into the simple ordinary moments which contain so many treasures...a fun walk in the park (free), baking cookies in the kitchen, reading together on the couch, a popcorn movie.
My 2 cents?
Choose ONE activity for the YEAR. It doesn't discount the goodness or value in those other opportunities that you'll be saying no to. You're saying yes to the GREATER VALUE you place on time at home, nurturing that little man's heart in the quiet of the days, encouraging him, finding time to be attentive to your home, your husband, your son, time to be creative, and allowing time for your son to just be 4 - even if that is in a small back yard with a few sand toys and a sand box instead of a structured activity. Choosing one activity means you can really appreciate that one opportunity. Save the money and invest in a family pass to the local botanical gardens or the zoo and go as a family and just be with each other and experience together.
Any opportunity that takes our family outside of our financial budget or time management budget is not going to bring peace or contentment. That opportunity will be questioned, lose value, bring stress and possibly debt. Rich home education experiences exist within a family's means.
This is really a prudential decision best made by you and your husband. You could make a list of pros and cons and brainstorm this together, keeping your limits in mind. You know your son and situation best!!! Have a great time picking and choosing! 
__________________
Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19 , ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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dolorsofmary
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| Posted: Jan 30 2010 at 6:00am | IP Logged
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Thank you all so much for your feedback. It is extremely valuable and my husband and I discussed all that you have said. Together as things play out I know we will make the best decision. Thank you!
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LisaR
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| Posted: Jan 30 2010 at 12:42pm | IP Logged
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Mackfam wrote:
Save the money and invest in a family pass to the local botanical gardens or the zoo and go as a family and just be with each other and experience together.
Any opportunity that takes our family outside of our financial budget or time management budget is not going to bring peace or contentment. That opportunity will be questioned, lose value, bring stress and possibly debt. Rich home education experiences exist within a family's means.
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when my kids were younger, some of the homeschooling budget went for zoo, museum, and State park passes. BEST money we ever spent!!! In fact, after at least 4-5 years hiatus, I did this all over again this school year, realizing that our younger 3 would really enjoy regular visits as my olders had.
As long as you are not overspending your agreed home education budget, I think that some of these expenses that might not seem super "academic" at first glance, coupled with regular visits to the library, might prove invaluable!!!
I also wanted to mention I can appreciate your concern with having an only child at this point.
We have two friends who have been blessed with only children, and homeschooling for them does mean they get out of the house a bit more, and they DO have a larger proportion of their budget going towards outside activities, than, say the family with 4-6 homeschooled siblings...
Welcome to the Boards!!!
__________________
Lisa
dh Tim '92
Joseph 17
Paul 14
Thomas 11
Dominic 8
Maria Gianna 5
Isaac Vincent 9/21/10! and...
many little saints in heaven!
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drmommy
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| Posted: Feb 01 2010 at 7:50am | IP Logged
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Jennifer, you said it so beautifully...got me thinking on some of my friends with younger children, and how they are going crazy with activities. I am not good with words, but your explanation was right on..
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4Real Forums : Nurturing the Years of Wonder
Topic: personal finance/overscheduling advice
