The following post is by MPFJ staff writer, Catherine Alford. Cat is a freelance personal finance writer who blogs at www.BudgetBlonde.com.
Although my children are only four months old, I have been thinking about their education for many years before they even came into existence.
I’ve always ascribed to the typical idea that “being educated” means, of course, going to college. However, now that college has become an overpriced industry, I’m becoming more flexible on what I expect out of my kids.
Mostly, I am open to them pursuing their college education in a variety of ways, and I hope at least they will become independent above all else and learn to make a successful life for themselves. Nothing would make me happier than raising kids who are self-sufficient and who are willing to find ways to get their degrees for less.
However, when I think of a well-rounded education especially, I think of more than just school and books.
Here are some ways I plan to educate my twins for less and ensure they are well rounded along the way:
1. Encourage Community College
I wish I had gone this route. Both Jacob and I went to highly competitive schools in the great state of Virginia. However, did you know that if you complete two years of community college in Virginia and maintain above a 3.5 GPA, you are eligible to get accepted to schools like UVA and William and Mary?
Many people I met in college went this route. Not only did they have two years of cheaper tuition, but also they got the same diploma I did along with all the perks of attending a top tier school.
I will definitely be encouraging my children to take as many community college classes as possible during their high school years and college years. The education is good, the classes might be easier to get better grades, and you can go to college with a semester or two of classes already under your belt. I’m not sure why people don’t take advantage of this more.
2. Take Them New Places
I believe that travelling is an amazing way to give your children a well-rounded education. When you travel, you can show them different parts of the world and how people navigate their lives through different experiences and traditions. When you travel and let your children lead the way, you are also teaching them how to use airports, how to behave in public, how to be level headed in stressful situations, and how to find their way quickly in a new place.
All of these skills are extremely valuable in life, and as long as my income allows it, I plan to have a smaller house and more modest cars so that I can take both my kids traveling with us as much as possible. This might not be getting an education “for less” but when you think of the price of college these days, a trip here or there hardly seems extravagant by comparison.
3. Take Them Out to Eat
If you want your children to succeed in life or learn how to interact with other people, make sure you include them in your dinners out.
In order for your kids to be well rounded, they should know how to order dinner at a restaurant and know how to sit there without an iPad entertaining them. I doubt Donald Trump let his kids play with their phones or act out while out to eat dinner, and while that’s a big example to give, it goes to show kids are capable of sitting still and having a conversation at the dinner table without gadgets keeping them quiet.
I’m sure there will be many times when I’m embarrassed by something my kids do in public. They’re kids after all. However, I think with enough exposure and training, they can come to know what’s expected of them when they are out and about.
Ultimately, I think parents get caught up in the idea of college and making sure their children get the “right” opportunities in the “right” places. However, I don’t plan on over-extending my kids, over-scheduling them, or paying $20,000 a year for high school just so they can get a chance at an ivy-league education.
I believe with the right tools, with the right exposure, with the right level of independence, they can do anything they want whether it’s attend a fancy school, start their own business, or take a year off to travel the world. In this day and age with the rising cost of tuition, I think it’s important to be flexible and open when it comes to education and realize that being education is so much more than a college degree.
How about you all? How do you ensure your kids get a well-rounded education? Do you plan on sending them to a 4-year college or university or are you flexible in your expectations of them?
Share your experiences by commenting below!
***Photo courtesy of https://www.flickr.com/photos/jblndl/1413647425/in/
