Anxiety, stress, and bullying are some of the key challenges facing young learners today. Is homeschooling the answer?

There are many reasons why homeschooling could appeal. And, sadly, protecting your child from stress, anxiety, and bullying is one of them.

If your child is being bullied or is unwaveringly unhappy at school, it’s hard to ignore the instinct to remove them from that environment altogether — particularly if you’ve got the resources and know-how to educate them from home.

But is it right to homeschool your child as a response to problems they face in the classroom?

And does homeschooling really help your child to overcome those risks in the right way?

In this guide, we’re going to answer those questions and more, as we unpack exactly when it’s the right time to step in with a homeschool alternative.

In truth, there’s no right or wrong approach to this situation. Only you know what is best for your child. But we hope that this article can provide a bit of clarity to what can be a very difficult, and highly emotional, decision for the family to make.

Firstly, let’s talk about the truth of bullying and mental health in schools

With more than 25% of high school students experiencing symptoms of depression, the school environment can be tricky for many kids to navigate.

From peer pressure to examinations, and anxiety to burnout, young people today are faced with a lot to overcome — in and out of the classroom.

And with 1 in 5 students in the US also having been bullied at school, it’s understandable if you might be considering whether homeschooling is a better, and safer, route for your child.

But before you make any decisions, it’s important to understand your child’s personal experience. The statistics can be scary, but unless your child is giving you any reason to worry, then try not to.

That said, there are a few warning signs to look out for if your child is being bullied or finding school too overwhelming. These include:

• Sleepless nights
• Struggling to make friends
• Fearing school, and trying not to attend
• Falling behind with work
• A loss of appetite
• Bad behavior in school
• Unexplained injuries
• Lack of interests
• Low self-esteem

As well as keeping an eye out for these, you should also speak to your child about their time at school. It will be a tough conversation to start, no doubt. But this will, in time, encourage them to open up to you; allowing you to identify future problems far sooner.

But once — or if — you do identify any issues, what exactly should you do?

Is homeschooling really the answer?

Let’s go ahead and break that down.

Is homeschooling the solution to bullying, stress, and anxiety at school?

As you might expect, the answer to this question will be different for every child. But there are certainly advantages to homeschooling any child who struggles with either bullying or ill mental health.

Let’s confront, head-on, some of the problems children today are facing, and assess whether homeschooling could help…

Homeschooling for mental health: social anxiety, depression, and stress

If your child is struggling with their mental health at school, you might think that taking them out of school is the answer. But before you do that, it’s important to consider whether you’re helping your child to overcome their problems, or helping to avoid them.

For example, removing your child from school could risk worsening their anxiety in the long-term.

If your child is anxious and stressed by constant deadlines, there will likely be better options on the table than simply removing them from school. It’s also possible another factor is at play: are they struggling with workload because of underlying dyslexia, for instance?

It’s worth exploring those options (like creating a work schedule together, co-operating with teachers and asking for extensions) before dramatically changing your child’s life.

And, similarly, if social anxiety is a problem, perhaps asking the school for counseling and other support is a better alternative to totally shielding your child from their fears — no matter what our parental instincts might say.

That said, mental health is an extremely serious issue, and there are times when simply pushing on’ — at least temporarily — is not an option.

If you notice that your child’s health and happiness isn’t improving, despite changes being made, then you should consult their school and doctor on what to do next.

It’s likely that a temporary Leave of Absence could be agreed for your child, and that you’re asked to homeschool them in an interim period. It’ll be up to you whether that becomes a more permanent arrangement, but always try to base your decisions on specialist advice when you can.

What about if your child is being bullied?

If your child is being bullied, and their school hasn’t managed to calm it down, homeschooling becomes a very serious and sensible alternative.

Logistically, moving your child from school to school can be difficult, and it’s likely that they won’t have the confidence to make new friends if they’ve experienced bullying in the past.

And whilst someone with stress and anxiety can often overcome their troubles with the right support and guidance, a child that has been severely bullied might struggle to feel comfortable at school for some time — particularly if the bullying student/s are still in attendance.

It’s for these reasons that homeschooling is sometimes the safest and most comfortable option.

That said, if your child’s situation has left them happier in the home, it’s important that you incorporate as much socializing into their new curriculum as you can, to help them rebuild their confidence and self-worth.

So is homeschooling the answer to your child’s unhappiness at school?

Yes, in severe cases of either bullying or mental health problems at school, homeschooling is a good way to offer your child a safe and protective learning environment. One where they can rebuild themselves away from anxiety and emotional distress.

Just make sure that any decision you make is well-informed and essential. This doesn’t mean not acting fast (in fact, some scenarios require the opposite), but it does mean that you should weigh up your options.

Ultimately, though, you know your child. And if your child’s safety, wellbeing and educational development is being hindered at school (despite efforts to change that), then homeschooling is certainly a decision worth exploring.