Wondering if anyone has suggestions for easing a very sensitive first grader to new public school (all day gifted magnet program) for second grade; he does not like the idea of change (though once the change is made for him he usually does ok). He currently goes to a small private school with a very loving atmosphere and has been there since he was 2 (they have a preschool program). The private school is nice but not academically challenging enough and we think he would fit better academically in the gifted program (not to mention that the cost for the private school keeps increasing and our budget is pretty tight). He complains that school is too easy but he also says he is going to go there forever. He has friends at the private school (though both of his "best friends" actually left after kindergarten and don't appear to have been replaced). His little brother would still be at the private school for at least a year (pre-K) so that makes it harder; and they will probably both have to go to the private school for summer "camp". When I told him he was accepted to the magnet he freaked and said he wouldn't go. I haven't said anything else about it. Can't decide if I should take him to the magnet program and let him see it before the end of the school year or just drop it for now and then keep gradually reintroducing the idea as fact (i.e., you're new school will be so great) over the summer. If I push him too hard I think he will push back and if he creates too big a fuss his dad may want to keep him at private so as not to deal with the hubbub and then . . . .
Thanks in advance for the advice and sorry for the long post; I'm wordy.
