I am also a stay at moms mom, My kids are 3 and 4. I do library, free events, I have take them to a free parent/child program 6 hours per week that I found, we do play dates and the park. As they got older, it became more important for me to have the kids in an activity away from me. I am with them 24/7 (no family babysitting) and they started to not listen when I would try to read them a story, or help them color. They responded more when they were able to be away from me learning the same things from someone else. Although you will be doing preschool, and I am with them at their preschool, so you will be getting that “away time”.

When my daughter turned 3 I enrolled her in ballet (20 per month for 1/2 hour once per week). I just put both in gymnastics (50 minute class once per week, plus 1 hour of open gym once per week) and is $112 per month for both kids. We also paid for swim lessons for the kids this past spring.The difference in the paid activities is an opportunity for another professional adult to reinforce lessons that I teach my children, sharing, listening quietly, taking turns. It is great to watch them grow and take interest in things. Check out local classes and your local parks and rec programs. You might be pleasantly surprised at how affordable small classes can be. If you plan on homeschooling you can be eligible to receive money towards extracurricular activities.

I think it is great when kids get to be a part of a team, or experience something that I can’t provide at home, like the thousands of dollars of gymnastics equipment. After your older child turns about 3 1/2 I would start thinking about even a once per week activity.