What makes The Ultimate 2015 Homeschool Holiday Gift Guide different from other gift guides?
Well, we basically generalized the unique characteristics/wants/needs/desires of most homeschooling families (including our own!), and came up with a list of gift suggestions that:
- are educational (or have at least some redeeming quality to them….no Selfie Booths, y’all)
- are family friendly
- can be used with or by multiple people
- are budget conscious
- encourage and inspire good or godly habits and character
Here goes!
For Mom:
1-Year Build A Menu Membership – $35 (valued at $82).
I’ve had one for years! Whether your family follows the Trim Healthy Mama plan, eats Gluten Free, Low Fat, Low Carb, Vegetarian, slow cooks, grills, or is on a tight budget, Build A Menu, the meal planning system created by two homeschooling moms, saves time, money, and a whole lot of work with their Done-4-U plan that literally requires nothing more than opening an email and printing off the attachment!
It’s a truly one-of-a-kind gift that will bless any busy mother, and from November 13-21, you can get a 1-year membership of both plans (BAM’s Classic Plan where you build your own menu, and their Done-4-U Plan that’s…well… done for you…) for $35 (a $82 value)!
(If you want to gift a membership, email [email protected] and Karee and Lisa will help you personally. They even have gift certificates they can email you to help with the gift presentation if you’d like!)
Trim Healthy Mama Cookbook by Pearl Barrett and Serene Allison – On sale for $15.49
This cookbook is on my list! If you follow Growing Home on Instagram, you already know that I’m back on Trim Healthy Mama. I started my second trimester last week, and it brought relief from the all-day nausea which means healthy food actually sounds appetizing again! Praise God.
I’m still referring to the original, 600+ page, first ever edition of their book that I received three years ago, but would love a copy of their greatly improved, professionally published, color photo cookbook with over 350 recipes!
I bet any Mama would. (P.S. These sisters are homeschooling Moms, too. They understand busy.)
Trim Healthy Mama Plan by Pearl Barrett and Serene Allison – On sale for $12. 49.
This book explains the plan in a much simpler way than the original version. Understanding Trim Healthy Mama is key to making the cookbook worthwhile!
Anything from Deborah & Co.! – $8-$99
This is a wonderful Christian company that sells modest clothing and beautiful gifts for girls, and is owned and operated by homeschooling friends of ours. I have several pieces from Deborah & Co., including 2 maternity skirts, fleece lined leggings, 3 nursing tanks, a modest shell, a scarf, and the floral scoop top with petal sleeves.
Deborah & Co. sells top quality products that fit well and are hard to find anywhere else!
Anything from The Bulk Herb Store! – $3-$50
Teas, herbs, books, heirloom seeds, water filters, and all the wonderful things that make for a deliciously healthy kitchen and garden – The Bulk Herb Store, an online store run by a homeschooling family, is a delightful place to shop for gifts! We love their products and their great customer service!
For Dad:
Books!
Ditch the man cave and bring back the library! Here are 85+ books on Brad’s list of favorites for men. Don’t be fooled by the title; we’d love for young men to read these books, but with the exception of a few titles on premarital relationships, the rest are just as applicable for Dads!
Games. (The intellectually stimulating kind). Dad can use these great games to promote some unplugged family time!
We love playing games with other couples on date nights! Some of our favorites (also appropriate if you have teenagers in the house!):
For the kids:
Uncle Rick’s Audio Books – $10/ month.
Two months ago, we invested into a whole series of Uncle Rick’s audio books. I thought we were buying them for the kids, but lo and behold, guess what I listen to when I’m driving by myself?! Uncle Rick!
Our kids love his audio books so much, they actually want to name our new baby “Uncle Rick” if its a boy.
These audio books are a fabulous gift the whole family will enjoy. Uncle Rick, a homeschooling father of 14, has a perfect reading voice that even our 2 year-old loves to listen to. The stories teach history, build character, inspire courage and adventure, and are soundly scriptural.
We heartily recommend the book club membership, which will bless your homeschool with exceptional listening material and bonuses year-round!
Books – $4-$25.
Our very favorite gifts to give are books…GOOD books. Good books open the door to new discoveries, can transport a child all over the world through time and space, and inspire and encourage good character. If you’re looking for a meaningful, inexpensive, potentially life-changing gift this season for someone under the age of 8, here’s a list of over 100 titles that we love and recommend!
Lego! – $5-$100
Our kids love Lego! It lasts for generations, appeals to all ages, provides endless hours of entertainment for boys and girls alike, and here’s a feature you’ll love…apparently playing with Lego is more advantageous than learning Algebra. Ha!
Anything from Little Deborah for little girls! – $8-$95
If you want to foster femininity in your daughters, you must check out Little Deborah! They have books, paper dolls, dress up clothes, embroidery kits, and more gifts girls will love! (Little Deborah is a division of Deborah & Co.)
Art supplies – $44
I love the quality of Prang art materials. This kit offers a wide selection of all the basic art tools the budding artists in your family will find a use for!
Swiss Army Knife – $25
Every boy’s dream!
K’nex – $19.99
My siblings and I used to spend hours playing with K’nex at my Aunt’s house! This toy encourages family bonding and creativity. Very similar to Lego.
Chinese Checkers – $12
We love this game because it doesn’t take hours and it accommodates six players!
103- piece Marble Race Track – $35
Teach logic, basic physics, fine motor skills, and problem-solving skills with one box of great fun!
200 – piece Wooden Plank Building Set – $41
For the boys (or girls!) who love to build!
Plastic Animals – $10
Our kids have spent hours playing with little plastic animals! They inspire a good imagination and are so much less work to clean up after than real ones. 🙂
Play Food – $25
We have three girls (so far). The fake stuff keeps them happy until they’re old enough to really hone their homemaking skills with the real stuff!
Drink & Wet Doll -$21
Guess which dolly is the favorite in our house? The one that goes “pee” after “drinking” water from her bottle! Just like the real thing….almost.
Bead Kit – $12
A creative craft for girly-girls.
Coloring Books – $3- $15
We go through coloring books like they’re going out of style! Neatly colored pictures are great gifts for children to bless the seniors at church with.
Play Money – $10
Our kids have so much fun playing store with their play money set, but they’re also learning how give correct change in real life.
Remote Control Machines – $60
For boys who are fascinated with construction and electronics.
Human Body Anatomy Puzzle – $12
A fun way to learn the parts of the human body!
Duo – Scope Microscope – $64
Bring Science to a whole new level!