how much input should a 5-6 year old have in choosing whether or not to go to school or homeschool. I feel like what my dd wants is really important, but I'm not sure she can even have a good understanding of what either choice really means...no matter how much info I give her.

I think my face is what you'll find if you look up "flip-flopper" in the dictionary. I have no idea what I'll do with dd in the fall. There are just so many pros and cons of public school and homeschool for us. She's been in and taken out of 2 preschools and 1 kindergarten. She said she wants to be homeschooled and then the other day she said she wants to go back to her teacher's class--she likes her now.

advice anyone (gotta go...baby crying)
sarah

For our family, schooling decisions are made by the parents. My children are early elementary age, when they get to be teens perhaps they will have more of a say in their schooling options. I think that a 5.5yo is too young to understand all of the implications of schooling decisions.

I have found that when it comes to decisions that *I* must ultimately make, allowing my kids to think that they get to make the decision creates confusion. Are you asking your DD every week what she wants to do, or is she telling you? I think that constantly asking can sometimes make kids think that *you* are unsure about what is going to happen.

I tend to be a fence-sitter also. But once I make a decision, I stick with it. Constantly switching schools doesn't sound like a good idea. Is there anyway you can make a decision and decide to stick with it for a year. You can reevaluate next year, but commit to a schooling decision for a year and see how it goes.

I know that when I send mixed messages to my kids, they seem more insecure. But if I tell my kids that they need to follow through with something even if they don't like it, it goes better.

FWIW, we homeschooled for years before I sent my kids to school last month. So I understand that it can be difficult to choose.

I have to agree that parents are the ones who should make decisions about schooling. The decision she would make is one solely based on what she wants to do today. The decision you would make is a combination of her opinion plus the hundreds of other advantages and disadvantages that come with either choice. She doesn't have the resources or experience or knowledge to know what is the best choice... she knows only what she wants right now.

So I agree with the previous poster. Make a decision and stick with it for a period of time before reassessing.

how much input should a 5-6 year old have in choosing whether or not to go to school or homeschool. I feel like what my dd wants is really important, but I'm not sure she can even have a good understanding of what either choice really means...no matter how much info I give her.

I think my face is what you'll find if you look up "flip-flopper" in the dictionary. I have no idea what I'll do with dd in the fall. There are just so many pros and cons of public school and homeschool for us. She's been in and taken out of 2 preschools and 1 kindergarten. She said she wants to be homeschooled and then the other day she said she wants to go back to her teacher's class--she likes her now.

advice anyone (gotta go...baby crying)
sarah

I would recommend you don't put her in school again until you are sure because I think it is detrimental to keep putting her in and taking her out like that.

My daughter always knows we listen to her and she has input, but the decision is ours. She's been happy with that so far!

We parents make the choices at my house. Kids may have input... parents the final say.