A few months ago, I wrote a post about Around the World Stories and then, more recently, I wrote a post about our family’s favorite homeschool subscriptions and gushed about Around the World Stories again.

I love when I discover a product or service that fits my family so perfectly.

Here’s the thing: I wish we could travel. I wish I had flexible kids who slept well elsewhere and who traveled happily and who loved being off schedule. But I just don’t. Not yet, anyway.

We did travel to California once when my oldest was one. We got a red-eye flight because everyone told me he’d fall asleep. Not only did he not fall asleep, but he managed to stick his arm through the seats and spill coffee on a sleeping woman.

I kid you not.

It was horrifying. (The woman was amazingly kind and understanding, thank goodness, but we haven’t taken him on a plane since.)

Around the World Stories  takes all of the cost and stress and missed work hours and disruption and logistics out of traveling with children.

*** Around the World Stories has two special offers for friends of My Little Poppies. Both of these offers are good until the end of this year and would make perfect gifts!

1. A one-month free trial of Around the World Stories story a week subscription (subscribers will receive one new story each week for one month). To redeem this offer, use the code POPPIES1 at checkout.

2. $20 off the Full Story Pack with the code POPPIES20 With this code, subscribers will receive all 29 stories that have been released to date, plus one more story each week until they have 52 stories total. ***

5 Ways We are Using Around the World Stories in Our Homeschool

*Disclosure: I received access to Around the World Stories in exchange for a review. I approached Around the World Stories because I had a hunch our family would love them. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own. I only share resources that I would use with my own family and ones that I believe other families will enjoy.

If you follow our site, you already know that I am a huge advocate of reading aloud and stories. Around the World Stories meshes so perfectly with our lifestyle and homeschool. This year, I am using these stories in conjunction with Jamie C. Martin’s book, Give Your Child the World. Geography has been a blast this year thanks to these two fantastic resources!

The Scoop on Around the World Stories

Around the World Stories is a monthly subscription service that delivers original, high-quality stories to your inbox. Each week, you receive one 25-35 minute story dedicated to the fun adventures of a child from a specific country, with a new country featured every 4 weeks.

These weekly stories draw young listeners into the fun adventures of children from other cultures and countries, bringing to life how the world’s children live, play, eat, think and learn. Each story comes with a parent guide including discussion points, country background, and an activity to make the story a truly memorable and educational experience… all for only $9.95 per month! We have loved the parent guides and have enjoyed trying new recipes, learning words in different languages, learning about holidays and celebrations around the globe, and doing crafts. Families also have the option of buying a story pack for $99 which provides immediate access to all the stories already created already (24+), followed by every story to be released thereafter (52 total).

 

5 Ways We Use Around the World Stories in Our Homeschool

One of the many reasons I adore Around the World stories is that they are so easy to use and they inspire so much conversation, creativity, and learning. Here are five ways we have been enjoying these stories in our homeschool:

1. Lunchtime Learning

I love to learn over lunch! I’ll often pop on Around the World Stories and lunchtime becomes an educational activity. We travel the world from our kitchen island!

2. Bedtime

With holidays on the horizon, bedtime has been a struggle. The energy and excitement levels are high and it can be tough to get kids to calm down a bit. Around the World Stories have helped to calm my kiddos before bed… even on Halloween night!

3. Quiet Time

Our family has a mandatory quiet time every afternoon. It is a tradition that we all look forward to. Sometimes, though, life gets hectic and quiet time doesn’t happen. And then the day is almost over and everyone starts to melt down. On the days when moods are low but it’s too late in the day for a quiet time (for fear the youngest will actually fall asleep and then not sleep at bedtime!), Around the World Stories have been so helpful!

4. Sick Days

Everyone hates sick days and I don’t know about you guys, but all that screen time does a number on my spirit. Around the World Stories have helped us to break up the monotony and learn in a way that is low-pressure and fun!

5. Crummy Weather Days

When the kids are climbing the walls but the weather is lousy, Around the World Stories comes to the rescue. Travel the globe without leaving your living room. Let your imagination run wild when your body is cooped up indoors!

I am honestly so thankful to have discovered these stories. My children adore them, as do I, and I love the conversations we have as we listen. They have been a wonderful addition to our homeschool routine.

Are you looking for more ways to raise globally-minded children?

Check out these posts:

• READ YOUR WAY ACROSS THE GLOBE
• 6 BOOKS FOR TEACHING MAP SKILLS
• MAKING SPACE FOR STORYTELLING IN YOUR HOMESCHOOL
• INCLUDING WORLD FOLKTALES AND FABLES IN YOUR HOMESCHOOL
• BOOKS FOR KIDS WHO WANT TO SAVE THE WORLD
• 10 THINGS YOU CAN DO TO HELP THE WORLD

Our favorite geography games:

Some of our favorite geography picture books:

Be sure to follow Around the World Stories

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Now it’s your turn. Tell me: Does your family have a favorite story subscription? Share here!