Thrift Schooling

Is crafting a lost art? I would argue that it is not. With the bombardment of screen-based activities fighting for our attention, we are often easily swayed or persuaded. When the screens feel numbing and social media feels overstimulating, where do we turn? Some of us are drawn to cute craft ideas, but RARELY FOLLOW THROUGH.       I am too old to begin a new hobby. I am not a crafty person. I failed at {insert Pinterest-fail here}. I have ADHD—no crafts for me! I get it. Crafts aren't for everyone, but some of us do have the itch and don't know how to scratch it successfully! The craft materials pile up for one day, some day, a rainy day, but they just keep piling up. The best way to remedy the craft itch is to START WITH A KIT . Not a pile of craft materials found on the discount rack. Not from a Pinterest post with no follow-through link. With a kit.  Why a Kit? All the materials are provided.  Instructions are included. A photo of the finished product is o...

  Fill your homeschool game shelf this season! Consider grabbing single-player games for rainy days, snow days, or times when the energy level is high and you need to point your kids to a new task. The  IQ Pentagon  is a 1-player logic game created for ages fourteen and up—though it could be used to challenge younger learners. With 120 challenges presented in a beautiful hardcover book alongside a sturdy, colorful handheld game, your teen will be pushed to the limits with this mind-bending strategy game! Beginning with 24 Starter challenges, the book moves through the Junior level, Expert level, and the Master level—120 challenges in total. The first aspect of the game that stood out to me is the stunning, gem-like game pieces. They are appealing to look at and make you feel like you are playing Candy Crush in real life! The quality of the pieces makes the game a high-end addition to your home, bringing a pop of color and class to your bookshelf. To display this game, I b...

Christmas Begins in Genesis by Isaac Whitaker creatively helps parents hone in on the true meaning of Christmas. This step-by-step, practical approach answers the age-old question parents face: “How do I teach my child the true meaning of Christmas?” We've all been there. Kids focusing on presents. On themselves. On how December 25 is going to look for them. And it is not entirely their fault. Grandparents, friends, neighbors (and even us as parents) feel generous this time of year. The joy is overflowing, and we want to give back—but is all of that giving actually helping people? Or is it secretly hurting them? I would argue that the answer is both. Many people see unexpected needs met by loving friends, strangers, and the body of Christ—pointing them to the Lord. Yet others fall into the trap of expectation. If a neighbor made them cookies for the past three years out of the kindness of her heart, and she doesn't do it this year, an empty, hollow feeling of disappointment ca...

  If you are looking for a gift for a preschooler,  Hide and Goat S eek Deluxe   is a preschool puzzle game lending to hours of fun. Created for learners ages three through seven , this game challenges your preschooler to try and outsmart the wolf—can she do it? With seven goats and one wolf, children attempt to hide the goats—protecting them from the big, bad wolf. Using common hiding places that your preschooler might use in her own game of hide-and-seek, along with a couple of not-so-traditional options (such as a grandfather clock), your child will be able to relate her own experiences to this game when trying to figure out the best strategy.  Most of the strategy games that I share with you are for older children to help with their problem-solving skills, and this game is no different in that aspect. It definitely helps children work on problem-solving. The difference? It is presented in a way that preschoolers will understand. Not only are the instructions easy...

  Perfect for any homeschool shelf,  Grizzly Gears  is a single-player game to keep your younger ones occupied while you are homeschooling older ones. The goal? Rotate the puzzle pieces to get out of the woods. With survival on the minds of many kids these days, this is an excellent way to introduce survival skills in an entertaining manner. The six puzzle pieces with adorable animal figurines are not only made of high-quality materials, but are also enticing for little fingers still learning through play.  The object of the game is to move each character to its end position by moving the tree pieces only. Little bear is an exception and can be moved to be in front of mother bear. You don't want to get her angry! I have found that what makes this single-player game created by Smart Games unique is that the challenges are organized by figurine. As your child works through the levels, Starter, Junior, Expert, and Master, an image of the figurine he is working with is l...

  Order the new Teen Study Bible !  Build resilient faith in the next generation with the new CSB Teen Study Bible.  Featuring a unique Q&A-style study approach , devotionals for  personal growth, and topical articles on complex faith questions,  this Bible equips students to connect Scripture to their everyday life. Endorsed by Shane Pruitt, the CSB Teen Study Bible is an ideal study Bible for student  ministries to buy in bulk, with three economical hardcover editions available.   This Bible is the perfect gift for every teen —it’s durable, a convenient size to  carry, and includes content written specifically for their generation. Robust study helps and practical devotions make this Bible great for students who  want to go deeper in Bible study.  Students are growing up in a world in which AI and social media parade as truth.  There’s no more vital moment than now to present Scripture’s truth in a way that is  easy to fi...