Center versus base school for AAP - child's choice?

[Anonymous]

How much of the choice of staying at local school versus going to center are you going to give your child? My child is apprehensive at the prospect of switching schools. We have heard that the local program is fine but center is much better (we live in same city as center so it's full of local students- just not that many from our local school- these are kids our child will see in MS and HS) - we will go to the orientations to learn more but we're afraid our child just doesn't want change.

[Anonymous]

The happier your kid is going off to school each day, the better s/he will learn. Sounds like s/he is happy at current school. Why specifically is the center school better (or is just that you "heard" it was better)? Would you have a chance to visit the center school with child to give him/her an idea of what it's like, maybe take some of the apprehension about switching away? Good luck

[Anonymous]

OP here- DS is just comfortable with the familiarity of the school. Last year was a really bad teacher-social year but this year it's been good so that's all he is thinking of. The apprehension is from change and fixating on how this year has been so enjoyable.

[Anonymous]

If the base school has a strong LLIV program, I think it's a no brainer to keep them there if they are happy at the base school and you are happy enough with it. I don't get the posts asking dcum to help choose between two very good schools such as Haycock vs Chesterbrook. If there are many more options at the center and either a weak LLIV or no LLIV option, I'd tell the child to keep an open mind and spend some time talking about each option and what the benefits are of each.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the base school has a strong LLIV program, I think it's a no brainer to keep them there if they are happy at the base school and you are happy enough with it. I don't get the posts asking dcum to help choose between two very good schools such as Haycock vs Chesterbrook. If there are many more options at the center and either a weak LLIV or no LLIV option, I'd tell the child to keep an open mind and spend some time talking about each option and what the benefits are of each.

What would you say if next year will be your school's first year having a Local Level IV program? I'm leaning towards sending mine to the center since it will be my school's first year with a LLIV program.

[Anonymous]

My kid, even after a bad year, didn't really want to leave the base school. There was just too much unknown there. We switched her anyway and she was much happier. The average 7/8 year old doesn't have the life experience or perspective to make this kind of decision. I would listen to what they have to say, but I would not personally let my kid make that decision.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid, even after a bad year, didn't really want to leave the base school. There was just too much unknown there. We switched her anyway and she was much happier. The average 7/8 year old doesn't have the life experience or perspective to make this kind of decision. I would listen to what they have to say, but I would not personally let my kid make that decision.

OP here- that is what I think too but DS got very emotional and anxious when we talked about options. How did you handle this/ how did you explain what would happen and why?

[Anonymous]

12:19 I guess it depends how cray cray you are about the program and how many children stay. By the second year, I would think any hiccups would be taken care of.

[Anonymous]

OP here- that is what I think too but DS got very emotional and anxious when we talked about options. How did you handle this/ how did you explain what would happen and why?

I told her we were going to visit the other program and wanted to hear what she had to say, but then her dad and I were going to make the final decision.

My kid actually has clinical anxiety disorder. Part of managing that is telling her what is and is not in her scope of worry. For her, having to make that decision was overwhelming. Us telling her it is not her decision to make actually reduced her anxiety level. We also told her it wasn't necessarily a forever decision and if she hated it after giving it a chance for a FULL YEAR, she could go back to the base school. After the first couple weeks, she loved it there.

We also worked really hard to make her comfortable with the school. I arranged a visit with the school counselor. I sent her to a couple SACC camps there over the summer so she knew the building layout, etc. The counselor had her in a lunch bunch with some other girls. (It was an anxiety group, but she didn't know that.) All those things helped reduce a lot of her anxieties.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

OP here- that is what I think too but DS got very emotional and anxious when we talked about options. How did you handle this/ how did you explain what would happen and why?

I told her we were going to visit the other program and wanted to hear what she had to say, but then her dad and I were going to make the final decision.

My kid actually has clinical anxiety disorder. Part of managing that is telling her what is and is not in her scope of worry. For her, having to make that decision was overwhelming. Us telling her it is not her decision to make actually reduced her anxiety level. We also told her it wasn't necessarily a forever decision and if she hated it after giving it a chance for a FULL YEAR, she could go back to the base school. After the first couple weeks, she loved it there.

We also worked really hard to make her comfortable with the school. I arranged a visit with the school counselor. I sent her to a couple SACC camps there over the summer so she knew the building layout, etc. The counselor had her in a lunch bunch with some other girls. (It was an anxiety group, but she didn't know that.) All those things helped reduce a lot of her anxieties.

How did you get your child diagnosed with clinical anxiety disorder? Is there anything you are doing to help it? Asking since my child may have this given the reaction. Thank you very much for sharing all your details. I wonder if we decide to send DS to the center, if he will be anxious and sad the rest of the school year at the current local school. Any insights to share please?

[Anonymous]

PP here asking about anxiety- I mean by seeing my son's reaction to a lot of other issues for quite a while (definitely not just one night of learning about AAP and potential move to center)..

[Anonymous]

We gave our child the choice. I gotta say, we kinda didn't want to deal with the center school and the potential other issues (younger siblings, biggest issue). That when DC said no, we didn't push.

[Anonymous]

When I told our child she was eligible, I told her she didn't have to go. We went to orientation and she decided she wanted to attend the center. FWIW, our base school does not offer level IV.

[Anonymous]

PP here asking about anxiety- I mean by seeing my son's reaction to a lot of other issues for quite a while (definitely not just one night of learning about AAP and potential move to center)..

PP with anxiety kid here. Like you, we noticed elevated levels of anxiety vs. what seemed normal for other kids. I noticed a few specific things that concerned me when volunteering in the classroom, so we had an evaluation done. She was formally diagnosed in third grade and starting seeing a therapist.

I wonder if we decide to send DS to the center, if he will be anxious and sad the rest of the school year at the current local school. Any insights to share please?

This is a good question. And IME, kids will talk about whether they are going on staying, so you can't just avoid it until school is out either. But honestly those last few weeks of the year are so chaotic anyway that it's just all a bundle of anxiety for my kids anyway LOL!!! If you decide to move, I would tell him and then don't let him dwell on it at home.