As the youth mental health crisis grows across the nation, many parents are both examining and reconsidering the environments in which their children spend their time. That includes traditional schooling.
For many families, traditional schooling was once the standard choice. Today, however, more and more parents are exploring alternatives. The number of families choosing to homeschool their children continues to grow, allowing for more personalized and flexible learning experiences.
Educating children at home can have a positive impact on their mental and emotional well-being, especially if they are struggling in public or private school settings. Even so, homeschooling isn’t for everyone. In this article, we examine the pros and cons of homeschooling, with a particular focus on your child’s mental health.
The Positive Effects of Homeschooling on Mental Health
According to 2019 data collected by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in seven children between the ages of three and 17 was actively managing a diagnosed mental or behavioral health condition.
Anxiety and depression are particularly significant issues for students between the ages of 12 and 17; the CDC reports that more than one in five students expressed feeling anxious within the last two weeks, while one in six experienced feelings of depression. According to the Mayo Clinic, anxiety in teens can show up as recurring physical complaints like stomach pains, perfectionism, a lack of confidence, a greater need for reassurance and approval, and even avoidance of school or social situations.
Given these statistics, parents have good reason to be concerned. Homeschooling is one way to address these mental health concerns and cultivate a positive environment for a child’s learning and development.
Reduced Stress and Anxiety in a Personalized Environment
Overcrowded classrooms, a rigid lesson plan, pace, standardized testing, and the fear of bullying by classmates can make a traditional classroom a stressful environment.
In public and private schools, students are expected to follow the pace set by the teacher, often without regard for their individual learning speed or current level of understanding. For students who move more quickly, boredom and distraction can quickly set in. For those who need a little more time, they may find themselves starting to fall behind, especially if they don’t feel confident in asking questions or seeking additional help from the teacher or their peers.
In a personalized learning environment, those same students have the ability to learn at their own level and pace. They are able to ask questions confidently, in a quiet environment free from anxiety and judgment, helping them progress throughout their lessons in a way that supports their educational success.
Minimized Bullying and Peer Pressure
Despite nationwide efforts to stop it, bullying is an unfortunate reality for many students. Nearly 20% of students in grades 6-12 have experienced bullying in some form.
While classrooms, if properly staffed, may be carefully controlled to reduce bullying incidents, these negative encounters frequently occur in less-monitored spaces. Hallways, playgrounds, and lunchrooms create opportunities for bullying—not to mention the harassment that can occur online. Bullying can have profoundly negative effects on a child’s well-being, from their mental health to their grades, and some studies suggest that the negative impact of bullying lasts well into adulthood.
Eager to fit in with their peers, many students are also highly susceptible to peer pressure. Peer pressure isn’t always bad; it can inspire your child to do well in school or to join supportive after-school groups. But peer pressure can also hinder their development, encouraging them to make choices that interfere with their studies and integrity.
Some parents choose homeschooling to minimize the likelihood of bullying and peer pressure. At home, a child’s environment can be closely monitored along with the people they encounter. This oversight allows parents to curate a peaceful, supportive environment for their child’s education. Even more, parents can help to guide them through their academic and non-academic development, helping them make good decisions both in and out of the classroom.
Enhanced Family Support and Emotional Well-Being
Homeschool students have the opportunity to spend more time with their parents and siblings than their traditionally-educated peers. From the hours spent focused on lessons to non-academic tasks like running errands and managing the household, many homeschooling families become tightly bonded.
Homeschooling puts families at the center of their child’s education and social life, helping to guide them in their academics and beyond. By spending this critical time with children, parents can get to know them on a deeper level, becoming more familiar with their everyday struggles and successes.
| If you’re ready to explore how homeschooling can benefit families, join Bridgeway Academy’s next virtual open house. Learn more about our accredited programs, ask questions, and discover how we can help provide the best educational experience for children. |
What Are the Negative Effects of Homeschooling?
While there are many beneficial psychological effects of homeschooling, it’s not the right decision for every child or every family. Critics of homeschooling are often quick to argue that homeschooled children become isolated from their peers and community, limiting their social development and their exposure to diverse viewpoints, while potentially keeping them in harm’s way at home.
It can’t be denied that isolation is a risk when children are kept at home for their education. However, removing a child from the built-in social structures of traditional schooling also comes with benefits—and many of the potential negative aspects can be easily overcome with a little effort and intention.
Social Isolation and Loneliness
Once upon a time, homeschooling a child, particularly in a rural community, meant fully disconnecting from the world around them. Modern homeschooling, however, is increasingly connected, with local homeschool groups offering in-person companionship and online forums to extend those connections around the world.
Bridgeway Academy, for example, offers a wealth of engagement opportunities for children and parents. Students might play soccer with a local group of homeschooled kids during the day and chat with a fellow homeschooler across the country (or the world) at night. A virtual ‘parent community’ allows parents to share their experiences with others, trading resources and tips to help one another navigate the challenges of educating a child at home.
It should also be noted that “isolation” isn’t always a bad thing. As we explored previously, homeschooling allows families to choose the people and influences in their child’s life, potentially reducing their risk for bullying and peer pressure.
Lack of Exposure to Diverse Perspectives
The opportunity for children to encounter numerous viewpoints is, undoubtedly, one of the benefits of sending them to a traditional school. However, while some views positively challenge a child and help them grow, not all are good or helpful for development. In fact, shielding children from unwelcome views is one of the top reasons families choose to homeschool their children.
Homeschooling can help raise children in a way that aligns with family values, limiting their exposure to potentially harmful worldviews. The flexibility of homeschooling enables children to pursue interests of their own, rather than those set forth by the school. But that does not mean they won’t be challenged—many homeschooled children benefit from diverse viewpoints, experiences, and knowledge within the community.
With Bridgeway Academy, students have numerous opportunities to engage with each other and online teachers near and far. Through study and online communities, they may encounter any number of viewpoints to expand and grow their own—but with help to process them along the way.
How Does Homeschooling Affect Mental Health Long Term?
In a 2024 article on homeschooling by the National Home Education Research Institute, research indicated that “87% of peer-reviewed studies on social, emotional, and psychological development show homeschool students perform statistically significantly better than those in conventional schools.” The article also noted, “Homeschool students are regularly engaged in social and educational activities outside their homes and with people other than their nuclear-family members.”
This is good news for anyone considering homeschooling as an alternative education.
Academic and Psychological Success in Adulthood
Beyond the factors of emotional well-being, one of the long-term benefits of homeschooling is the way it teaches children to direct their future. Homeschooled children are frequently taught self-reliance and motivation as they chart their educational path, giving them a stronger sense of self than their peers.
With that empowerment and an accredited homeschool program like Bridgeway Academy, concerns about a child’s path to post-secondary education can be addressed. Research from the National Home Education Research Institute further indicates that homeschooled students consistently score higher on the academic achievement tests required by most colleges and universities, and do just as well or better in college than the general population.
Building Emotional Resilience Through Homeschooling
Growing up isn’t easy. As children work through their education, they’re likely also dealing with normal challenges of youth: the complexity of emotions, shifting hormones, encountering new challenges every day, and the experiences of both success and failure.
While these experiences are not unique to homeschooled children, the environment through which they process them is. Homeschooling offers a personalized environment that goes beyond the textbook to learn life lessons—including the resilience to pick themselves back up and keep going. As homeschooled children progress through their education, they’re frequently given more opportunities to self-direct their path, allowing them the freedom to explore their interests, to see what fits and what doesn’t. Even more, they have the opportunity to fail in a safe space, learning to either push through or choose a new direction. These skills can carry over into adulthood, helping them navigate challenges with confidence, adapt to changing circumstances, and persevere through setbacks—qualities that are essential for personal and professional success.
Is Homeschooling Better for Mental Health Than Traditional Schooling?
For some children, homeschooling is a better option for their mental health than traditional schooling. As we’ve explored in detail, homeschooling offers a safe, supportive environment that can minimize peer pressure and bullying, allow them more control over their educational destiny, while giving them the freedom to learn at their own pace.
Even more, homeschooled children have proven successful in university and beyond, helping to ensure a healthy, successful future.
Even so, every child is different, and they all have different needs. How and where a child thrives will depend on several factors that include, but are not limited to, the environment in which they learn. It’s important to consider all the pros and cons of public school vs. homeschool to make a decision.
The Bridgeway Academy team is available to help families understand the benefits and challenges of homeschooling.
With more than 35 years of support for homeschool families, one-on-one academic advising, a 96% success rate in matching students to the right curriculum and learning plan, and robust virtual and in-person communities (including Parent Connections), Bridgeway Academy’s accredited homeschool programs can provide a high-quality education that meets the unique emotional needs of children.
Register to attend our next virtual open house to learn about our programs, philosophy, and opportunities for connection within the homeschooling community. You can also contact us for more information or call us toll-free at (800) 863-1474.
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