How Unschooling Keeps a Parent’s Brain Young

I recently came across an article that said one of the best ways to keep your brain in shape (beyond the basics like eating well, sleeping enough, and staying social) is to learn a new skill. Something as simple as practicing piano for a few minutes a day can help prevent cognitive decline over time.

When I first read that, I thought, Sure, I’d love to learn piano, but between the cost of lessons and the time it takes to practice daily, I’m not sure it’s realistic right now.

But as I sat with that thought, I realized something: unschooling itself is an incredible way to keep a parent’s brain strong. Without even signing up for classes, I’ve been learning new skills right alongside my kids.

Over the past few months, I’ve picked up football basics, such as how to throw a football, run plays, and even play wall ball, just because my kids wanted to practice more. When my son decided to learn chess, I jumped in with him. I’d always wanted to re-learn the game, and now we play daily, keeping each other sharp as we remember how each piece moves.

And it doesn’t stop there. Chess, sewing, crochet, card games, memory games, puzzles, math problems, sports, or even diving into a good book all become opportunities to stretch our minds. What starts as following our kids’ interests often turns into our own personal growth and skill-building.

Unschooling is full of benefits for children, but it also enriches us as parents. Planning activities that engage everyone in learning, going on field trips, or simply joining our kids in their hobbies doesn’t just keep them curious—it keeps us curious, too. And maybe that’s the real secret to keeping our brains young: never stopping the adventure of learning.