8 Absolutely Awesome Reasons To Homeschool Outside
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Fresh air and sunshine are just two reasons to take your homeschool outside. When the weather permits, capitalize on the benefits of homeschooling outside.
Summer is in full swing. If you’re year-round homeschoolers or you’d just like to get a few days in the bank for next year, take advantage of these warm, sunny days. There are many benefits to moving your homeschool outdoors.
Check out some of my favorite reasons to homeschool outside.
Builds a Stronger Immune System
The vast majority of Americans are Vitamin D deficient, and more sunshine means more vitamin D. Not only does vitamin D help build stronger bones, but it also helps strengthen the immune system.
In addition to the immunity-boosting power of vitamin D, you can also increase your immune function by spending time in forested areas. Trees produce phytoncides, which have antibacterial and antifungal qualities. When humans breathe these chemicals in, we increase the number of natural killer cells in our bodies.
Improves Mental Health
Have you ever noticed how being cooped up inside leaves you feeling a little down in the dumps? There is something to that. Vitamin D deficiency can cause depression. That means that spending time in the sun can help relieve symptoms of depression.
On top of that, the time spent in green spaces has proven to help reduce anxiety, stress, depression, and other mental health issues. Therefore, homeschooling outside gives you a double dose of the feel-goods. That’s sure to make school time more pleasant.
Increases Creativity
If you’re working on a project that requires a bit of creativity—such as writing, drawing, or crafting—heading outside could help boost those creative juices. One study showed that spending time outdoors improved participants’ scores on tests used to measure creative potential.
Strengthens Academic Performance
Believe it or not, homeschooling outside could also mean academic improvement for your child. Time outdoors can improve memory and make it easier to maintain focus. You can see how combining these factors can lead to better results with schoolwork. That’s incentive enough to head outdoors with (or without) the books!
Boosts Energy Levels
No homeschooling parent likes fighting their kids to do their school work. As it turns out, being in nature can help with this as well. Time spent outdoors can boost your energy levels, making it much easier to get things done. Additionally, our family finds that the change of scenery can help everyone to reset and get into school mode.
Provides Hands-on Learning Opportunities
The outdoors is packed with opportunities for hands-on learning. From counting rocks and spelling in the dirt to building forts and bird-watching, there is always something new and exciting for kids to do and learn in the outdoors.
Allows Plenty of Room to Move
If the many excellent outdoor activities that teach everything from academics to life skills weren’t enough, homeschooling outside also gives kids a chance to move. Freedom of movement makes learning more fun, helps the lessons stick, and improves overall health.
Develops an Appreciation for Nature
Finally, spending so much time learning, moving, and having fun outdoors helps children (and their parents!) develop an appreciation for nature. This love of the natural world is something that far too many children miss out on these days, and something we should all instill in our little explorers.
Clearly, spending more time outdoors is beneficial. So grab those books and messy science experiments and spend some time homeschooling outside this week. You might be pleasantly surprised by the results.
Do you school outside? What would you say is the most significant benefit?
I love this, Chelsea! My dream homeschooling house (we’re not there yet — currently searching for it) has a great outdoor space for learning, reading, and playing. For now, we make do with nature walks, trips to the beach, and my parents’ yard. 🙂