Top Ten Gift Ideas for the Homeschooler

One fun aspect of homeschooling your children is that you can have a lot of fun with it, having educational materials around the house for the enjoyment of the parents as much as for the kids. These materials are for the children first, but if you are a parent who loves to learn and hasn’t forgotten how to be a kid, you will benefit from these gift ideas as much as your children will. Just remember to share!

1. A microscope. One of the more expensive gift ideas, but one with possibly the most potential, is the microscope. I have heard other homeschooling parents say that they have never regretted spending their money on a microscope for their children. It has so many uses, and you can look at a variety of things. There is the customary paramecium, of course, but you can also look at hair, skin cells, blood, fly wings, leaves, paper, food, and anything you can imagine seeing magnified.

2. A world map. A world map, and maps in general, can open up the world for your child. Children see that they are part of a much larger community: their city, their state, their country, their continent, and the world. You can plan pretend journeys with your children, and maps help children put history and current events in context. Learn about other cultures and find where they live on the map. Put pins in the places you’ve been to. Learn geography for the sake of geography. Historical maps can help teach history, too, showing how the borders of states or countries have changed over time. Maps are good for just contemplative study, as well.

3. A class at a local community college. For an older homeschooled student, give them the gift of a class at a local community college or, for all ages, a class at some kind of learning academy. Kids can take a special music class, art, dancing, acting, wood working, stained glass, or whatever you can find that they are truly interested in. It also helps your children learn how to learn from a teacher other than you.