Homeschool students outperform their traditionally schooled peers on standardized tests. Now, it seems, there is a biological reason for it—sleep. Fox Reno reported on March 11, 2013 that a new study conducted by Lisa Meltzer, PhD of the National Jewish Health Center in Denver, Colorado, shows homeschool children get the optimal amounts of sleep.
Teens need sleep
Meltzer, a sleep psychologist and lead researcher on the study, says that teens require nine hours of sleep every night. It is not only the amount of sleep that is important. Meltzer says that when sleep occurs is just as important as the amount of sleep. Teenagers’ biological clocks tell them to go to sleep later and wake-up later than other children.
The study shows that most high schools start school during a time when a teenager’s biological clock tells them to be asleep. By the end of a normal school week, a teenager attending public or private school could be suffering from 10 or more hours of sleep deprivation. Lack of sleep causes poor concentration and inattention.
Homeschoolers get enough sleep
The study showed that 55 percent of homeschoolers in the study got the optimal amount of sleep every night. Only 16 percent had insufficient sleep. That is a big difference where only 26 percent of traditionally schooled teens received adequate sleep.
The study examined a total of 2,612 students, 500 of which were homeschooled. High schools should take a careful look at this study and adjust their opening times. When kids get enough rest, they are capable of doing amazing things.
Lynda Altman has homeschooled her 4 children over the last 15 years. She currently has 2 children remaining in homeschool. Lynda believes that homeschooling is the best option for her children. Get notices when this page is updated by clicking on the subscribe link, by email, or contact Lynda @fusgeyer on Twitter.
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