A recent study has found that there are some great benefits to homeschooling children, but it does come with some risks as well. Motherhood can constantly feel like a battle of risk vs. benefit, and it seems like every choice that mom makes has to be assessed to make sure that it is the right choice for her child. Since there are no guidebooks to tell mom what the clear choice is, she often has to sit down and list out the pros and cons of a decision. All she can use as a resource are the latest studies and information on the subject.
According to Study Finds, new research has been done that looks at homeschooling and what the benefits and negatives are for the children involved. This research was done by Harvard University and it can be read in full here.
- The study found that a child who is homeschooled is less likely to partake in “risky” choices.
- They are less likely to try drugs, binge drink, or engage in casual sexual interaction.
This could be due to the decrease in “peer pressure” that they have since they are not in a school environment and dealing with other students who may be a bad influence.
When it comes to the negatives, the study also found:
- Children who are homeschooled are less likely to receive a college education.
These are two very serious sides of the fence, and something that parents may take into consideration when they decide to homeschool their child. Studies like this can also inform parents of children who are homeschooled what areas they should work on a bit more to make sure the negatives don’t affect their child. The number who do not end up going to college is quite large as well, the study found that 77% of homeschooled children do not go on to get a college degree.
To complete the study, researchers looked at data from more than 12,000 children who were enrolled in a study in the US. While these children may not have gone on to go to college, they were also more likely to volunteer, to be more forgiving in general, and to have a better sense of purpose than children who went to public or private schools. They are also more likely to engage in healthier behaviors overall, and this is something that parents may value over a college education.
Sources: Study Finds, PLOS One