Ten Surprising Health Benefits of Homeschooling
“Never.” That was my plan for homeschooling our children, even before we had kids. Our experience in public school was wonderful and we never planned to change course. Then I started researching a topic to determine who to interview next for The Savvy Sauce podcast. I simply typed into the search bar, “Ways to cultivate godly character in your children.”
I found fabulous ideas and articles and podcasts and then I realized a pattern: every single contributor was a homeschool mom. Oh no! At that moment, I remember praying, “Lord . . . are you trying to tell me something?” while simultaneously thinking, “Pleeeeeease don’t ask me to homeschool our children!” We were one year away from what I referred to as “The Promised Land” (AKA: all four of our daughters on the same schedule at the same elementary school for two whole years, less than a mile down the road from our house).
As He is, God was gentle in His response, revealing a little more and still more over time. I certainly wrestled with Him, but my first point of surrender was to agree to pray about it, then bring it up to my husband, and then ask God for His timing. As I was working to teach our girls to trust and obey, I was convicted I needed to continue practicing that same lesson. I needed to trust and obey God. He made it very clear, for reasons unknown to us at the time, He was calling us to home educate our four daughters.
I started an Evernote list of all the Scripture He used to confirm this decision, but ultimately, I had to obey without understanding why. I was fearful of what we were giving up, fearful our girls would miss out on time with their friends, and fearful I wouldn't be patient enough to guide all four, or intelligent enough to handle every subject.
One Sunday as we were driving to Church, our family took a vote and unanimously decided to give it a try. As I wrote in Ideas to Encourage Independent Play, “Sometimes clarity and understanding come on the other side of obedience.” This time blessing came after our obedience. Blessings were immediate and the Lord’s kindness has been evident in our journey.
There are very few things I think every Christian is called to do. Jamie Erickson and I discussed this in the Holy Hygge episode. We also talked about homeschooling being an extension of parenting and we both gushed about how much it benefits our families. However, we understand not every family will choose this route. What I want you to consider is simply to invite God into the process. Just ask Him what is His best plan for you and your family? Regardless of His response, it’s wonderful to acknowledge Him in this, as in all things.
Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart
And do not rely on your own insight or understanding.
In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him,
And He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way].” (AMP)
I have no idea how He will answer your questions, but I was reminded today of the blessings that come from inquiring of Him, and the terrible consequences that result from failing to inquire of Him and turning only to others (See 1 Chronicles 10:13-14).
What I wasn’t expecting was the various health benefits that would result from our choice to home educate. These span across physical health, mental health, spiritual health, and relational health. Which one do you resonate with most in this season? And which one is lacking in your life right now? I hope this simplified, practical list at the end will jumpstart you and your children to take one step toward a healthier lifestyle today. I need these reminders for our children and for myself daily, too! With gratitude, I’m excited to share this list with you!
We get to read the Bible together and incorporate biblical principles into all subjects.
We get to spend extended time outdoors and benefit from the early morning light (which produces serotonin in the day that turns to melatonin at night. Happy by day, sleepy by night!)
We get to take time to prioritize B.R.I.G.H.T. M.I.N.D.S. (If you don’t know what this stands for, you’ve got to check out Episode 254 Raising Healthy Children with Dr. Charles Fay.)
We get to spend more quality time with friends. Homeschooling is so efficient that we get done in a much shorter amount of time, leaving extended hours during the day to not just sit at desks shoulder to shoulder, but actually engage with each other and delight in the leisure of friendship.
We get to eat better and hydrate more. We’ve started making sourdough bread at home as part of our science curriculum and our girls have chosen to read nutrition books and then implement the lessons learned. We don’t have to rely on pre-packaged food for lunches or worry about all the sugar that is oftentimes given as rewards in school. Instead we get to prepare food together at home and feel better as a result of eating healthier, whole foods. Nobody has to ask for a drink break and staying hydrated keeps us energized and focused.
We stay sharper. Dopamine increases when we study something we have chosen that interests us. Our girls are all reading different books of their own choosing, so the lessons learned tend to stick better. I have to challenge myself to stay sharp and stay ahead of them, or re-learn history and math facts right alongside them.
We get to devote more time to beauty loop subjects, such as art and music. Our children are so happy when they get to create something, and singing hymns together is both enjoyable and committing beautiful, spiritual truths to memory.
We get to move more. In the episode with Jodi Mockabee about the Benefits of Homeschooling, Jodi gave me the idea to have our kids work out first thing in the morning. Mark and I were already loving this rhythm, but the early morning rush of traditional school days crowded out space for our children to get to delight in these same activities. Now as part of their morning checklist, they do some sort of exercise outdoors. We also take frequent breaks to move around and swim or walk or play in between subjects. Getting the blood flowing from exercise also increases blood flow to our brain, so it has multiple benefits!
We get to sleep more. This is one of my favorites! Consequently, we have had our healthiest year yet! Prior to homeschooling, our family would have at least one sick person every week. A friend told me if you have six or more people in your family, someone is statistically sick over 80% of the time. That used to be true for us. We would miss out on so many fun plans because one child would get ill at school and then bring it home to share with the rest of us. Part of the reason was probably added stress combined with lack of sleep. Now we don’t set alarms and we wake up when our bodies are ready to be awake. I used to battle insomnia most nights, but that decreased significantly as well. Sleep affects everything and I am daily grateful that we have the flexibility to choose the schedule and prioritize sleep.
We get to enjoy a more robust lifestyle: Homeschooling has provided us the freedom to incorporate a healthy variety into our schedule: soccer, nature walks, volleyball, journaling, hymns, art, cooking together, piano, frequent and regular hospitality, and so much more! Because we had the margin from homeschooling, our girls were able to write an article for a magazine, entitled For Girls Like You. We can fit these things into the daily schedule and still have no homework at night, leading to less stress and less burnout. This robust life contributes to having deeper connections and it has been so worthwhile!
I’m limiting myself to ten and not gushing about the hundred other benefits. Regardless of the school choice you make for your family, I want to summarize ten quick and easy, healthy choices. You can print these out and let your kids choose when they’re out of ideas.
Here’s to healthy living!
Love always,
Laura
P.S. If you like this article, you don’t want to miss this Monday’s guest!!! Make sure you tune into The Savvy Sauce podcast on May 5th, 2025!
About The Savvy Sauce
Practical chats for intentional living
A faith-based podcast and resources to help you grow closer to Jesus and others. Expect encouragement, surprises, and hope here. Each episode offers lively interviews with fascinating guests such as therapists, authors, non-profit founders, and business leaders.
They share their best practices and savvy tips we can replicate to make our daily life and relationships more enjoyable!
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