According to the new research studies, more than 60% of primary school pupils in the United Kingdom suffer from anxiety. This report is evidence that anxiety is on the increase among youngsters and teenagers. An indisputable fact is that the traditional school system has become the biggest childhood stressor, with its heavy workload, high-stakes testing and excessive assignments, peer pressure and bullying. For a child who has anxiety, this situation may lead to a sense of panic and paralysis. It is not surprising that you are considering homeschooling as a better alternative to the demanding style of the traditional school system.
Though homeschooling may not automatically eliminate anxiety from your child, it will create a conducive learning environment for your child. This is evidenced by the success stories from parents whose kids have found success with the homeschooling or personalized learning experience. This article aims to furnish you with information that will help you decide if homeschooling your child with anxiety is the best choice.
How homeschooling benefits children with anxiety
Homeschooling your child will allow you to minimize the tense learning experience and competition. Through homeschooling, your child will have the chance to study and learn at his own pace. It also offers you the benefit of organizing your child’s schedule, to allot more time for rest, if he has sleep issues. In cases where your child has an anxiety attack, you can take a break from schooling and tackle it directly. This directly contrasts the traditional school system, where children with anxiety may be left behind or pressured into learning despite their plight. Homeschooling also affords you a fantastic opportunity to integrate therapeutic techniques into your child’s learning schedule. Your child can learn psychological principles that can help his social and emotional development.
Homeschooling comes with many other incredible benefits for your child. They include:
Homeschooling is Flexible and accommodating
As we have explained above, one of the reasons why homeschooling is an attractive choice for many families today is its flexibility. Homeschooling afford parents with the possibility of integrating different teaching styles or curricula. This will immensely benefit the children. Parents who have tried out homeschooling discover that their children’s education is impervious to distractions, generally faced by traditional school systems, for example, crowded classrooms, closure due to pandemic or noise. According to medical research, noise induces stress and triggers anxiety.
Personalized learning plan
Studies have shown that children who learn with customized learning plans perform significantly well in tests, especially in the areas of science and mathematics. Traditional school system pressurizes children to adapt to a rigid curriculum. With homeschooling, children will enjoy a personalized lesson plan that will specifically cater to their unique interests and strength. This will promote the love of learning and give them a sense of accomplishment, diligence and confidence.
Learn at own individual pace
It wouldn’t be difficult to agree that the traditional school system tends to micromanage children to a considerable extent. This may exert too much pressure on children, lowering their happiness level and learning experience. The culture of back-to-back classes with no chance for respite is enough to create an overwhelming aura of stress. Homeschooling is characterized by so much fluidity that parents can create a schedule that works best for their child. This self-paced learning will mean children can spend more time in classes that seem difficult, improving their ability to understand. Children can also take part in highly beneficial activities like exercise.
Reduce the likelihood of bullying
A survey conducted by Ditch the Label, an anti-bullying organization, revealed that 62% of respondents – between the age of 12 and 20 – had been bullied by their classmates. Bullying inflicts a child with negative mental, physical and social problems. Homeschooling provides a relieve from the pressurized environment of the traditional school system, fueled by bullying. This will help the child to reach his potential and bloom.
How to make homeschool work for your child
As soon as your child starts homeschooling, the temptation to copy the style used in the classroom may creep in. If that teaching method did not work, find another that will work best for him. Your child may be a visual learner that enjoys jotting down and underlining new information he encounters while learning. He may be better at a more hands-on or practical learning style, where you need to show him the object of study. It would be best if you incorporated his learning style because it will highly benefit the homeschooling programme.
When selecting curriculum, it will be helpful if you integrate whatever your topic your child enjoys. If he loves drawing, then include fine arts study unit. With homeschooling, you can pitch in interesting topics your child is passionate about, outside the ‘everyday’ subjects of Maths and English.
To give your child some measure of social interaction, you can apply for membership of a homeschool support group. Your child can participate in excursions and group outings. It only tends to families that adopt the system of homeschooling. You can also fix a time for screen time in their daily schedule.
So with effort and sacrifice, your child will be able to reap the benefits of homeschooling.
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