Ren Allen

When money doesn't seem to be enough to cover a child's interests,
that's your opportunity to be CREATIVE!!!
Finding a teen or parent that is willing to share their passion is a
great way, but there is also barter.
Most towns have some kind of parks and recreation program or community
centers that offer very low cost classes. We've done gymnastics,
ballet, karate, art and music at community centers for next to nothing
cost wise! They were really great classes too.

Look around, ask other homeschooling parents and I bet you'll find
some alternatives. Sometimes classes aren't the best way to pursue an
interest anyway, so try to find other ways to fulfill the need if your
child enjoys that.

Maybe instead of gymnastics, a tumbling mat and a mini-trampoline
would suffice? Totally depends of course, but there's a lot we can do
creatively and inexpensively.
Being the thrift hound that I am, I'd be checking out garage sales and
thrift stores or your local freecycle group for the trampoline or
tumbling mat and building my own balance beam.:)

Ren
learninginfreedom.com

Danielle Conger

Ren Allen wrote:

>
>
> Look around, ask other homeschooling parents and I bet you'll find
> some alternatives. Sometimes classes aren't the best way to pursue an
> interest anyway, so try to find other ways to fulfill the need if your
> child enjoys that.


Definitely. Check with local homeschooling groups to find mentors. 4-H
is another great way to find free mentoring for lots of expensive
activities--horse riding, etc. I ran a Rock Hounds club that included
rock climbing, knot tying, geology, geography, etc.

Think outside of the box--that's the single most useful bit of advice
any one can take.

Help your child *learn*--that's a whole different mentality than "teach."

If you're still thinking in a "teach" mindset, you'll be looking for
expensive classes and specialized lessons. But, thankfully, that's not
the only way to learn.

Look for books, videos, community mentors, internships--expand your
child's world in the direction of his/ her interests and lose the boxed
notion of teaching.

If a child is interested in something, help them find ways to *do* that
thing--in small ways, different ways, volunteer ways, shadowing ways,
email interview/ conversation ways. Those are the kinds of things that
turn into internships, contacts, jobs, careers, transcripts, etc.

--
~~Danielle
Emily (8), Julia (7), Sam (5)
http://www.danielleconger.com/Homeschool/Welcomehome.html

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"With our thoughts, we make the world." ~~Buddha

aroundthemilkyway

inspiration inspiration inspiration.....keep it comin' keep it comin'
keep it comin'!!! :) thanks!!!

Sometimes classes aren't the best way to pursue an
> > interest anyway, so try to find other ways to fulfill the need if
your
> > child enjoys that.

> Think outside of the box--that's the single most useful bit of
advice
> any one can take.
>
> Help your child *learn*--that's a whole different mentality
than "teach."
>
> If you're still thinking in a "teach" mindset, you'll be looking for
> expensive classes and specialized lessons.