Please enjoy the following guest post by Jenny Wise on budget-friendly hobby ideas that your kids will love.
Jenny created Special Home Educator as a forum for sharing her adventures in homeschooling and connecting with other homeschooling families. Jenny is a homeschooling mom to four children.
Jenny created Special Home Educator as a forum for sharing her adventures in homeschooling and connecting with other homeschooling families. Jenny is a homeschooling mom to four children.
Making sure your children have hobbies and interests outside of school is a huge part of successful parenting. Hobbies help kids socialize with others who have similar interests as opposed to the school friends they make simply because they share an environment. They provide new ways of learning things and inspire creativity in children. The eustress that hobbies create is great for a child’s mental health and self-esteem. Plus, having hobbies outside of class can actually help kids succeed in school.
As a parent, you may be hesitant when it comes to your children picking up new extracurriculars. It’s not unheard of for a kid to say they want to do something, you invest a bunch of time and money into it, and then they completely lose interest. If your family is living on a budget, you probably can’t afford to let that happen. However, you also can’t afford to stifle your child’s potential by sitting them in front of the television instead of encouraging them to pursue their interests. The following hobbies are perfect for kids and are also relatively affordable, even for families on tight budgets.
As a parent, you may be hesitant when it comes to your children picking up new extracurriculars. It’s not unheard of for a kid to say they want to do something, you invest a bunch of time and money into it, and then they completely lose interest. If your family is living on a budget, you probably can’t afford to let that happen. However, you also can’t afford to stifle your child’s potential by sitting them in front of the television instead of encouraging them to pursue their interests. The following hobbies are perfect for kids and are also relatively affordable, even for families on tight budgets.
Music Lessons
The younger a child is when they start to take music lessons, the easier it is for them to pick up their instrument of choice. Music lessons refine self-discipline while stimulating different parts of the brain. Kids who play music tend to have more patience and higher self-esteem. Music is also a great gateway for teaching kids about different cultures, making them more well-rounded and empathetic. Furthermore, music lessons improve social, physical, and academic skills.
Of course, instruments and music lessons do not come cheaply. You can save some money by looking for discounts and promo codes for online and local music shops, or find a used instrument via a site like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. Be sure to look for student or beginner models that enable your child to pick up the basics before they upgrade to something nicer (and more expensive). You can also look for discounted accessories and sheet music on Amazon, where vendors from all over the world sell their wares used and new.
Of course, instruments and music lessons do not come cheaply. You can save some money by looking for discounts and promo codes for online and local music shops, or find a used instrument via a site like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. Be sure to look for student or beginner models that enable your child to pick up the basics before they upgrade to something nicer (and more expensive). You can also look for discounted accessories and sheet music on Amazon, where vendors from all over the world sell their wares used and new.
Sports
If your child has an abundance of energy and prefers to get up and go, then getting involved in a sport might be a great hobby for them. It doesn’t really matter what they choose — table tennis, volleyball, or baseball, just to name a few — if your child shows an interest, do your best to get them involved. Of course, don’t forget about the upfront expenses; chances are, they will need good tennis shoes or new clothes to get started — and that’s at the very least. Thankfully, you can save a lot of money by looking into second-hand gear and accessories. Whatever they choose, just remember to be supportive, even if they struggle a bit with it at first.
Arts & Crafts
Arts and crafts are not just for summer camp. If your child has a creative bug, crafting and making art is a great outlet for them. Furthermore, when your child is painting, using craft scissors, or using just about any kind of art supply, they improve their fine motor skills. The arts can be especially helpful for children who have trouble communicating verbally. Providing them with another form of expression can help relieve feelings of anxiety and depression resulting from their communication issues. Further, giving your little one a space in your home to explore crafting and display their masterpieces will help them feel supported in their artistic endeavors, and will make them feel proud to show off their creations.
It’s no secret that art supplies can be expensive. You can typically find good deals and discounts from Walmart, as well as cashback offers and discounts at Target, but don’t underestimate what your child can create with found objects or household items. As their abilities grow, look into professional lessons that help them hone their craft. You can find affordable art tutors on sites like Thumbtack, where locals post their services and you can negotiate prices.
It’s no secret that art supplies can be expensive. You can typically find good deals and discounts from Walmart, as well as cashback offers and discounts at Target, but don’t underestimate what your child can create with found objects or household items. As their abilities grow, look into professional lessons that help them hone their craft. You can find affordable art tutors on sites like Thumbtack, where locals post their services and you can negotiate prices.
Science Experiments
All kids have a knack for curiosity. Tap into that by encouraging your child to use their free time crafting and executing science experiments. Obviously, doing these activities can help them in school — especially science and math. Doing experiments may be especially helpful for children who struggle in these subjects as they start to garner interest in a fun, real-world model rather than in a stuffy classroom with worksheets and pencils. Best of all, many of these experiments can be completed with common household items — you may not have to spend a penny!
Some great kids’ science experiments to try out include:
It’s very important for children to have hobbies and extracurricular interests for their socialization and self-esteem. Of course, it can be very frustrating as a parent to invest money in an activity only for your child to lose interest. When choosing hobbies, look for ones that can be done with inexpensive materials. For hobbies that require an investment, look for good deals online, and consider buying used beginner instruments that your kids can learn on before they upgrade.
Some great kids’ science experiments to try out include:
It’s very important for children to have hobbies and extracurricular interests for their socialization and self-esteem. Of course, it can be very frustrating as a parent to invest money in an activity only for your child to lose interest. When choosing hobbies, look for ones that can be done with inexpensive materials. For hobbies that require an investment, look for good deals online, and consider buying used beginner instruments that your kids can learn on before they upgrade.
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If you haven’t already read the book, it’s a great place to start - Relationship Reboot: Break free from the bad habits in your relationship.
David B. Younger, Ph.D. is the creator of Love After Kids, for couples that have grown apart since having children. He is a clinical psychologist and couples therapist with a web-based private practice and lives in Austin, Texas with his wife, 14-year-old son, 5-year-old daughter and 7-year-old toy poodle.
If you haven’t already read the book, it’s a great place to start - Relationship Reboot: Break free from the bad habits in your relationship.
David B. Younger, Ph.D. is the creator of Love After Kids, for couples that have grown apart since having children. He is a clinical psychologist and couples therapist with a web-based private practice and lives in Austin, Texas with his wife, 14-year-old son, 5-year-old daughter and 7-year-old toy poodle.
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