Hi, transitions can be seen as movement - from one place to another and adapting to that change eg. coming from home into the setting & from the setting to home, leaving the setting to start school, leaving school to start college, a house move, new baby brothers and sisters, changes in family members - step parents, divorce, separation, bereavement, medical transitions that involve visits, treatments or interventions ..
Potty to toilet, nappy to pants, car seat to booster, cot to bed, pushchair or walking to shopping trolley seat ..
Transitions can be huge like primary to secondary - college to new job or smaller: leaving the jigsaw table to visit the book corner, or it may also be in the courage shown in letting someone know they need to visit the toilet. Children are so individual that each will have their own way of doing something and show concern, confidence, worry, excitement all in different ways.
To support a child in transitions is to be aware of how nerve wracking they can appear to be - a fear of the unknown, a new family visiting their chosen preschool for the first time may be the same as when you attended your first job interview.
How you support a child is in how you reassure them that everything is ok, that they are welcome, that you value their input and are confident enough to take the lead, show them around if that is wanted, introduce them to toys, resources, areas, other children and continually reassure them they are able to go where they want, when they want and how they want
explain areas that aren't freely accessible - storage cupboards, kitchens etc and show everyone what's inside making sure that even with 'no go areas as such the family/child are still very much part of the building/environment ..
This assignment asks about one transition, would new starters fit with an experience you've had and how have you/the settings policies & procedures helped with them settling in?
Are child/ren & family invited to stay for a short time in your setting - getting to know it, are parents allowed to drop children off later to avoid the rush or pick up earlier for the same, are toys from home allowed into the setting for familiarity, is there a quiet area for the child to visit for them get to grip with what's going on and to be in control of what they do & when and is there a key person/worker system in place that allows a member of staff time to connect with the child & family helping to provide a link or a point of contact that the parents and child feel comfortable and reassured by?
If you use the
search page and type in 'transitions you'll find many threads that may help with ideas ..
Continuity and
consistency are words you may find useful xx
And
attachment theory - the inteview from BBC radio 4 is good - it needs real player to run.
It's a heavier read but if interested the linked resource has some good information inside -
seamleass transitions
xx
Assignment Unit 3 question P5
& 
Linear Mode
