Shirley’s Prepackaged Crafts

The Old School House is a magazine for homeschooling families. We sent them a three month subscription for them to review and here is what they said:

At the beginning of each school year, I always have such great intentions. Art! Music! Field Trips! Crafts! Soon, however, the weight of all that has to be done sets in and those grand ideas tend to get pushed to the back burner, or at least are not tackled quite as often as I had hoped.

I have learned over the years that if I can have all the supplies purchased and ready to go, I am more likely to do an art project or craft with the kids. I’ve also learned that if those supplies come in a kit, I am one happy mom. No need to run around to several different stores with all the kids in the van, hoping they’ll have what I need.

Shirley Gust of Shirley’s Prepackaged Crafts provides a terrific kit well-stocked and planned for homeschooled preschoolers. Each month’s kit has a seasonal theme and allows opportunity to practice cutting, gluing, basic writing (such as numbers and letters), and coloring.

The projects are simple enough for mom to pull out and scan the instructions in a few seconds–no major preparation time needed. Most days I could just peek in the box for the next project, hand it over to my five-year-old with a few instructions, then let her go to it. She adored each project she made.

While simple enough for a preschooler to grasp and not be frustrated, the projects are quite cute. During the month of March, for example, my daughter made a shamrock welcome sign, an octopus, and an elephant puppet. She used stickers, cut out bees and their hive, and practiced her numbers. There was nothing complicated or frustrating, and she looked forward to each new project with that sweet five-year-old excitement. And just for a fun and encouraging touch, each kit contains a certificate for mom’s use–print the child’s name on it, tell them what a good job they’ve done, and watch their little eyes light up.

Shirley’s Prepackaged Crafts offers a monthly kit that is mailed to arrive the last week of the preceding month. September’s craft package will arrive the last week of August; October’s craft package will arrive the last week of September and so on. You can also order a quarter’s worth of kits and not have to think about ordering again each month. Order cut-off for the next month’s kit is the 15th of preceding month.

I love seeing homeschool businesses do things nicely, and Shirley Gust certainly falls into that category. I think you and your preschooler will be blessed by Shirley’s Prepackaged Crafts.

Product Review by Kendra Fletcher, The Old Schoolhouse^® Magazine, LLC, March, 2009

Well that’s a little sunsine coming our way! If you want you can check out the actual review here.

If you have a homeschool website or other outlet where you do reviews and would like to have a three month subscription sent to you send us an email.

Ever notice when a child learns to climb, they will climb on anything and everything? They have full confidence that what they climb will hold them secure. Indeed, they need the various objects to challenge and strengthen their growing minds and muscles. Unfortunately a few tumbles are taken before caution is exercised.

As you begin this homeschool year, consider where your confidence rests. Is it in the Lord and His sufficiency or in the curriculum you’ve purchased? Is the curriculum needed? Of course! But it is the Lord who directs the paths of men and it is His mercy that sees us through each day.

Jeremiah 17:7 & 8
“But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”

Whatever this year holds, may you find yourself taking confidence in Him.

Check us out and become a fan.