Resources I should have?

[lovelymama2]

We're going to be getting money back from our taxes and I'd like to use it well to get some things for my 4-year-old girl that would be good to have around while she homeschools. We normally have very little money -- like I can't always buy craft supplies and so on. I'd like to use this money well. But I was wondering what some basic things are that we could use. Ideally I love the idea of her unschooling but I'm very willing to use aspects of a curriculum. She's doing the "teach your child to read in 100 easy lessons" book now, and hopefully after that's over with she'll just be able to devour books about horses and space all day We don't have a tv, and read all day, so she's already sitting down flipping through her books, though she can't read.

So what I can think of are:
craft supplies (paper, coloring/doodle books, glue, etc)
Museum memberships (nature/science, children's)
gardening supplies (seeds, pots)
audio books (too expensive?)
Dance lessons (she's starting in March)
???

[SagMom]

Originally Posted by lovelymama2

e's already sitting down flipping through her books, though she can't read.

So what I can think of are:
craft supplies (paper, coloring/doodle books, glue, etc)
Museum memberships (nature/science, children's)
gardening supplies (seeds, pots)
audio books (too expensive?)
Dance lessons (she's starting in March)
???

If you have a decent library system, I wouldn't spend money on books (or audio books.) We've also found more than enough books at yard sales, library sales, freecycle, homeschool giveaways, etc.

I'd spend the money on consumable supplies (art stuff, or science experiment supplies, the gardening stuff you mentioned, etc.)

Lessons are good too, and musical instruments.

On the museum memberships, look closely at any reciprocal agreements they may have, as well as any free admission days/times so that you don't spend unnecessarily. (I once almost bought a membership to a place I learned had a free admission day once a month. And we were gifted a membership once that had a reciprocal agreement with a much more expensive museum.)

But most of all, look to your dc's interests and consider her age--we love museums, but at 4 y/o my oldest was only interested in the dinosaur exhibit at the museum of natural history and my other two would have been more interested in running up and down the halls, lol.

[LilMama23]

I'd start checking Craigslist for cheap musical instruments, craft supplies, & gardening supplies. The nice thing about Craigslist is that you can barter - so your money can go a lot farther than it does on Amazon.
How about "school" supplies, like a globe, maps, abacus, etc.? We picked up a talking adventure globe for $1 at a yard sale and it has helped my four-year-old discover so many things! Just yesterday we talked about why the sun goes down and I used the globe and a flashlight to explain how the earth turns in relationship to the sun.
For craft supplies, if you get a newspaper they usually have 50% off one item coupons for A.C.Moore and Michael's - don't forget to use these when purchasing bigger items!

[One_Girl]

I think that the craft supplies are a good idea, but it is fine to keep it simple with things like construction paper, crayons, tape, glue, beads, and some sequins. My dd has learned to crate many wonderful things using these basic supplies and the beads are great for counting and math. If you garden then gardening supplies are a great idea, but if it isn't something that comes naturally to you then it may stay just a fine idea. Library books are cheap and you can often get a lot of great books on tape, especially if you put them on hold and are willing to wait a while before getting them. I think some beginning phonics readers are a good idea, though it may be a while before you are able to use them. We also enjoy our zoo membership a lot. I don't recommend a museum membership at that age unless you have been to the museum and know that your child enjoys it. My dd hates museums normally and doesn't even spend much time in the kids areas, she loves to run around the zoo and look at all of the animals though. If you have a community center it would be a good idea to check on the lesson prices. My dd hated dance lessons at that age, but she loves them now that she is seven. You may waste a lot of money on pricey lessons that your child turns out not to like, and the same lessons are sometimes taught by the same teacher at the community center for a fraction of the cost.

[luv-my-boys]

on the craft supplies can you wait until the back to school sales this fall for stuff? Normally stores slash supplies prices for instance I bought .25 cent crayola crayons, $1 crayola markers and .10 glue. Very reasonalbly priced and so we stock up for the yr. So my $15 supply money goes FAR.

memberships: I would first check into whats available locally and see if they offer "free" days or student prices or heck some even have children under x age free so your child might still be able to get in. I personally like to get a membership for one place locally because it has reciprocity to other local museums, discounts on special presentations that we would love to see plus since its indoors "winter" friendly indoor places are always on my mind on places to go to get out of the cold/rain so the boys can let off steam.

This is the time of yr as well that I start to buy what curricula I might use for example math workbooks. I normally dont buy lots of books because our library system is pretty good about loaning stuff plus Im able to get a teacher card which allows more books and longer checkout I do buy some books that I know are favorites or things like a nice atlas/map book that we are constantly using. I also invested in some nice wall laminated dry erase type maps-USA and world.

[AAK]

Originally Posted by lovelymama2

So what I can think of are:
craft supplies (paper, coloring/doodle books, glue, etc)
Museum memberships (nature/science, children's)
gardening supplies (seeds, pots)
audio books (too expensive?)
Dance lessons (she's starting in March)
???

For the craft supplies, add in pipe cleaners (aka chenille stems) and pony beads. Other than the obvious craft use, we use them to show patterns, to sort, etc. We also made our own math "rods" by sliding ten beads onto pipe cleaners cut into thirds. Instead of the hundreds being represented by a flat square, we made a necklace. We did four white beads and then a dark blue bead on the fives. So, now we have a visual for 100 and we can count by fives on the necklace.

I would skip the audio books and get them from the library. Our library has a TON of them, and now we can even download them from their site. Find out what she will need for dance lessons and save some for it. Will there be a recital? What is the dress code? etc.

Do you have any building type toys? I find them valuable here. We use them way beyond the intended purpose. Legos are legos, but they are also math manipulatives here.

Have fun.

Amy