Are Homeschooled Children More Mature?

One of my friends recently commented to me that she's noticed since my boys began homeschooling, they've become very mature. It got me thinking...

It's true, that when I think about it, my boys are actually very mature and responsible for their age. I don't think all of that comes from homeschooling, but it has certainly helped. I've taught my children to be responsible from a young age, by age three they were taking their own bowls into the kitchen after meals and have been making their beds and dressing themselves since school age. But what homeschooling has done is given us even more opportunities to discuss important subjects as a family and to have time to really understand those subjects.

As a family, we often discuss serious issues like money, fraud, terrorism, and the advantages of working hard, trying, and getting on with things even if you don't like them. A lot of emphases is put on making the effort, taking pride in your appearance, and being a good person to other people and the environment. Not only do we have more time than most to sit and discuss these things, and to answer any questions my children might have, my children also have more time to reflect without the distraction of a busy classroom.

My children aren't caught up in petty playground dramas, and when they do socialise, they have a greater understanding of how to play fairly and when to walk away from conflict. Don't get me wrong, this isn't always the case. On occasions, my boys can be very silly and act completely out of character when with their friends. But that's part of the growing and learning process. On the whole, I definitely think homeschooling has made my boys more mature, particularly when I see them interact with friends who still attend school. The difference is very apparent.

I hope that maturing my boys much quicker than they might have become in mainstream school, will enable them to make positive decisions as they grow and, fingers crossed, help them avoid peer pressure when they reach their teens. So, is having mature children important? In some ways, I think it is. One day you are going to have to let them go before you're ready. Perhaps they will want to go out to play or head off to the cinema with their friends. It's at those times you can only hope your child is mature enough to know what to do if there was an issue and mature enough to make decisions that can only lead to good outcomes.

#homeschooling