The Unique Psychological Needs, Dynamics, Benefits, and Risks of Online Home Schooling

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May 1
5 min read

Updated: May 2

Online learning and mental wellbeing: Making the right choice for your child

In an era where educational landscapes are rapidly evolving, online home schooling has emerged as both a lifeline and a challenge for families worldwide. It provides an alternative path that empowers students to learn at their own pace, often in safer and more personalised environments. However, it also comes with its own set of psychological needs, complex dynamics, benefits, and risks that parents must consider carefully before making the transition.

Understanding the Unique Psychological Needs of Home Schooling Learners

Whether through online platforms or parent-led instruction, home schooling learners often experience a learning environment starkly different from the traditional classroom. This shift can result in distinct psychological needs, including:

Support for autonomy and self-direction: Online learners must develop internal motivation and executive functioning skills. Many students struggle initially with structuring their day or staying on task without direct supervision. This need for autonomy can be empowering when managed well but also overwhelming when students are under-prepared or unsupported.
Social connection: Steytler’s research underscores that many home schooling parents actively seek out opportunities for socialisation due to the lack of peer interaction in home environments. Nasrin Kirsten of ADvTECH Schools similarly warns that social isolation in online education can heighten anxiety if not proactively addressed. Students benefit from structured opportunities for interaction, whether through virtual classrooms, extracurricular activities, or organised meetups.
Clear boundaries: Without physical separation between school and home, students often feel like they’re always in “school mode,” which can increase stress and decrease downtime. Helping children build structured routines and designated study spaces is critical to psychological wellbeing. These boundaries help learners “switch off” from academic responsibilities and enjoy leisure, family time, and rest—key ingredients for healthy emotional regulation.

This makes it quite clear that, although there are obviously many of the same basic psychological needs among traditional-school learners and home-school learners, there are definitely distinct Unique Psychological Needs of Home Schooling Learners.

The Benefits of Online Home Schooling

While critics often highlight potential drawbacks, several benefits of online home schooling stand out—especially from a mental health perspective:

Reduced School-Related Anxiety: Online learning often alleviates stress caused by bullying, peer pressure, and rigid schedules. Schoonwinkel notes that home schooling learners feel safer and more confident, especially when removed from toxic school environments. The flexibility and psychological safety of learning from home allow students to heal from past school-related trauma.
Individualised Learning Pace: Both Steytler’s participants and current mental health experts highlight how children benefit from pacing their studies to suit their cognitive and emotional development. This flexibility helps reduce performance anxiety and promotes a sense of achievement. Learners who require more time on certain subjects receive it without the stigma of “falling behind,” while advanced learners can progress without being held back.
More Family Time and Emotional Support: One of the motivations for home schooling identified in Steytler’s study was the desire for deeper family bonds. This nurturing environment allows students to process emotional challenges with trusted caregivers nearby. In cases where children have experienced trauma, the consistent presence of a caregiver provides stability and reassurance.
Accommodation of Special Needs: Home schooling enables customisation of teaching methods to accommodate learning disabilities or neurodivergence—something traditional systems often struggle to provide. Parents can adapt materials to suit visual, auditory, or kinaesthetic learning styles and integrate therapy into the learning process, turning education into a truly supportive experience.
Holistic Development Opportunities: Online platforms like Evolve encourage ‘Screen, Green, Team, and Dream’ time—emphasising real-world engagement, collaboration, and creativity. This approach nurtures the whole child, not just academic performance. Activities like gardening, cooking, and household science experiments offer practical learning that enhances confidence and emotional intelligence.

The Risks of Online Home Schooling

Despite its many benefits, online home schooling is not without risks:

Social Isolation and Loneliness: Without structured peer interactions, children may feel disconnected, leading to anxiety or depression. Steytler’s research highlights how some learners missed regular contact with friends and mentors. A sense of belonging is critical in child development, and isolation can stunt emotional growth if not actively addressed.
Technological Stressors: As Kirsten notes, unreliable internet, unfamiliar platforms, and lack of IT support can cause frustration and exacerbate performance anxiety. For younger students especially, troubleshooting technical problems can feel overwhelming and demotivating. It’s vital for online schools to provide robust technical support and guidance for parents.
Inconsistent Feedback and Support: Students may feel adrift without regular, personalised teacher interaction. Feedback is essential for building confidence and tracking progress. Online schools must implement feedback loops that include not just grades but also encouragement and specific developmental suggestions.
Parental Burnout and Role Confusion: Steytler’s study found that homeschooling parents often struggled with role overload—juggling teaching, parenting, and household management. This can lead to emotional fatigue in both the child and parent. In dual-income households, this pressure is even more pronounced, and additional support—whether through tutors or co-ops—may be necessary.
Lack of Oversight: Without formal assessment structures, some students may fall behind academically if systems are not in place for accountability and feedback. Parents may also lack confidence in evaluating progress, especially in subjects outside their expertise. Structured support through online curricula or consults with qualified educators can mitigate this risk.

Key Takeaways: Striking the Right Balance

The evidence is clear: while online home schooling can support mental health, it requires intentional design, support systems, and continuous adjustment to each learner's psychological profile. Parents are advised to:

Evaluate whether the school provides regular live interactions with teachers and peers.
Ensure that feedback and progress tracking mechanisms are in place.
Encourage routine and boundaries to separate home life from school time.
Invest in physical and creative activities to balance screen time.
Foster open conversations about mental health at home.
Be realistic about their own limits, seeking outside help or peer support when needed.

As South Africa's experience with home schooling grows, research like Steytler’s helps debunk myths and clarify that this model can indeed offer a valid, viable alternative—when executed thoughtfully. It’s not about choosing between online or traditional schooling, but about choosing what works best for the learner’s unique psychological, emotional, and academic needs.

Why My Services May Be a Good Fit for Online Home Schooling Families

Given that home schooling families are already fluent and comfortable in virtual environments, online counselling is a natural extension of the support systems they value. My counselling approach—delivered entirely online—fits seamlessly into the digital routines of online learners and their families. With 15 years of experience working primarily with teenagers, and over 5 years specifically in the field of online therapy, I understand both the developmental challenges adolescents face and how to support them effectively in remote formats. Because working with teens often means working with their parents too, I bring extensive experience in parent collaboration, including around special needs accommodations and school transitions. This positions me well to help families reflect on whether online home schooling is a psychologically appropriate and sustainable fit for their child. I offer a relevant, accessible and experience-based service that aligns closely with the realities of home schooling life.