Unit CYP 3.1
An explanation of how different types of transitions can affect children and young people
1. The 4 types of transitions are
Emotional - personal experiences such as parent's separating, bereavement, begining or leaveing a place of care.
Physical change in environments
Intellectual maturation, moving from one educational establishment to another.
Physiological puberty or medical conditions
Resource links, excellent reading from the USA :
Pensylvania SA better kid care.psu.edu:
Understanding transitions -
Mommy don't go -
Transitions the clues and
Understanding emotional wellness
http://www.silkysteps.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11109
2. Common Transitions 0-19 years, the possible affects and benefits that positive relationships may have:
Babies weaning - young children may not like the texture or taste of other foods and may lose weight if weaning attempts to replace a milk diet too early. Children may begin to have disturbed sleep patterns, be more irritable whilst awake and less motivated to try new foods.
Supportive relationships help to overcome the anxiety during these times with use of a soothing, calm voice, reassurance through eye contact, physical contact to comfort, play ideas that help distract tension and diffuse worry, or maybe anger at facing another unwanted episode of food tasting. Motivate trying new foods by showing how you taste them first and what imapct that has - facial expression yum, where this is hesitant try a tongue tip & touch approach to a new food, have knowledge of baby led weaning and the benefits this has for self motivated experimentation with foods, tastes, flavours, textures that are set solely at the child's own pace:
Weaning and supporting children during this transition - leaflet from the Department of Health
Loss of a comforter - the transition between having a soother, dummy or pacifier and not having one can be quite traumatic.
Supportive relationships will understand that what a child has come to rely on for reassurance and comfort to assist sleep and achieve calm maywell be gone.
* Premature babies and using a pacifier on a special care baby unit
* Weaning babies from a dummy tips
* Soothers and dental problems
* Dummy guidance from the FSID foundation sudden infant death reseach regarding overheating and rem sleep
* Pacifiers and oral thrush
* Should I give my child a dummy - from speech and language therapy services of Halton and St Helens PCT
* Effect of a dummy/pacifier on breastfeeding research by Cochrane - and summary response from Rosie Dodds policy advisor to the NCT
Move from crawling to walking - this transition sees children reach new perspectives on thier lives, viewing the world around them from an independantly upright position. They can obtain items with greater ease, move with increasing speed.
Supportive relationships will ensure children explore their environment safely with interest and enjoyment.
Accidents and child development publication - supporting transitions
Move from cot to bed - a child may feel insecure with new sleeping arrangements, may have disturbed sleep patterns, wake more or less frequently, be happier or more withdrawn / tired / aggressive / upset at leaving parents during the day. They may react negatively when they realise bed is the next part of their day and behaviour may regress.
Supportive relationships help to overcome these fraught, stressful times, reassuring children in ways that show it's ok to be concerned at changes - what is resillience and have knowledge of ideas that it's claimed help children establish healthy sleeping routines.
Children and sleep from the BBC and new bed storybooks and going to bed
Move from nappies to using the toilet - is a potential confidence and self esteem demoraliser. The reassurance that nappies offer can be enormous for both child and parent. Some children move effortlessly through this transition with seemingly minimal support, for others it is more difficult recognising the signs of needing the toilet, for them it can make accidents and the events that could occur in repsonse to an accident something to be dreaded and feared.
The independance that comes with using a toilet/potty alone is one of the firsts for the responsibilities involved with managing own care routines.
Supportive relationships understand when an accident happens, and shows that it's okay. That they can be cleaned up, everyone moves on and ressurance is
given for trying again the next time.
Bladder and bowel control, potty training , toileting for children with autism.
Starting nursery - Attachment theory: John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth
Where children are unaccustomed to leaving parents or are feeling unwell, separation can be a very upsetting and confidence shattering experience. Repeats of this negativity may cause withdrawal, regression - toilet using children may begin to wet the bed, be aggressive where usually amenable and may begin experience anxiety issues - not wanting to go out, becoming fearful of separation/clingy, not want to take part in activities that would usually engage some interest.
Supportive relationships help children through this potentially difficult time by reassuring the child that it's ok to be upset at leaving their parent/carer, you know how much they love them, that you also have fun activities planned and would they like to join you. Policies and procedures for a setting will guide if parents stay or how you contact parents for collection due to illness. Benefits of supporting this transition are for the child's independance, their ability to deal with times of separation, resillience, and begin understanding how they have control of and can lead their own learning, socially, emotionally and intellectually.
Joining primary school
Joining a new nursery or reception class - new faces, unknown personalities, lack of knowledge about who provides support will impacts on a child's confidence, ability to interact, be comfortable and relax. Nervousness or anxiety may iomapct in ways that have them need the toilet more frequently - anxiety and urination, request something to drink more frequently -
anxiety and dry mouth, experience a feeling of nausea, nervousness or regress to being aggressive and confrontational.
Moving from one class to another new year starts involve the uncertainty of not knowing a new teacher, a new room, resources and way of working.
During errand running concerns may involve worry at disturbing others in the room, this maybe heightened if children are older, teacher is unknown, fear that knocking will direct unwanted attention to themselves may prevent a child wanting to go/perform this type of task or be unwilling to enter the room - they may become quiet, withdraw and refuse to particpate when asked for volunteers.
Positive relationships can support children across the school by adults making themselves known to children. Personalities, attitude and approach will reassure the children on the type of support they could expect.
A permanent, new class environment offers the opportunity to experience different layouts, places where resources are kept and resource items themselves. Positive relationships can reassure children that access is the same as they're already used to. A tour of the new room and its facilities will help familiarise everyone with what's available and enble children to settle in and restablish routines.
Starting a before or after school club
Losing milk/first or primary teeth and gaining adult/permanent teeth can be as painful a the eruption of the first milk teeth in babies: flushed cheeks, sore or aching gums & upset stomach which can all affect behaviour and mood. The realisation of growing up, gaining teeth that will be present for the rest of their lives can also cause excitement and concern. Supportive relationships know a tooth fairy where culturally appropriate, to help with the transition of tooth loss, the gap in a child's mouth and the awkwardness that has for chewing foods .. to the full growth of a new tooth, be able to provide relief from pain & discomfort and empower the child with information and ways to care for their teeth - dental hygiene. How not to forcibly pull out a loose tooth with fingers, string or other device as the tooth's root will resorb to the point that it is safe to fall out naturally - part of physiological development. Forced eviction could result in
snapping the tooth, pain and infection.
Teeth development leaflet from AWCH Australia
Starting secondary school
Going through puberty
Starting new college
3. Less common Transitions 0-19 years
Bereavement: may involve sadness, depression, loss of self worth, value and direction in life. Supportive relationships can provide consistency in the knowledge that talking, communicating in ways that help a child come to terms with that sense of loss is
healthy - bereavement from handsonscotland
Moving home/area/country
Moving away from home
Starting a new college or university
Change in family structure:
eg. Parents separating - divorce, new siblings, new step parent, step children, new baby
Abuse - physical, emotional, sexual, neglect
Bullying
Significant illness or disability
4. Transitions for adults:
Start employment
Leave home
Establish long term relationship, marriage
Have children
Change jobs
Experience family death
5. How transitions may affect childrens behaviour and development
Short term effects:
Outbursts of anger
Crying and tearfulness
Clinginess/need for affection
Withdrawal
Unreasonable behaviour
Tantrums in younger children
Regression in behaviour
Difficulty sleeping
Loss of appetite
Loss of motivation
Lack of concentration
6. How transitions may affect childrens behaviour and development
Long term effects:
Self harming
Withdrawal
Avoiding social contact
Lack of concentration
Not learning/developing
Low self confidence and self esteem
Strained relationships
7.
Supporting children through transition involves
Explaining what's going on
Discussing what is happening
Providing activities that help to distraction, focus and give opportunities for communication, language and literacy
Have routines that reassure children of what's next
organise visits that help children be familiar with places they'll be attending.
Quote from page 79 CYPW handbook
Regression: showing behaviours of younger chidlren eg. bedwetting, sucking thumb, talking like a younger child
Aggression:frustrated outburts, unreasonable behaviours, temper tantrums
Withdrawal: quiet, solitary behaviours, unwilling to join in with others or new activities
Clinginess:unwillingness to leave the sight of a carer or familiar adult. Requires more physical reassurance than before
Illness:genuine and psychosomatic - complaints of stomach pains, cold sores, increased number of colds and viruses
Extroverted behaviours:unusually cheerful, outgoing, boisterous and attention seeking
Sleepnessness:difficulty in falling asleep, nightmares, walking in the night, waking in the night, tears at bedtime
Lack of concentration:difficulty in concentrating, lack of motivation, easily distracted
Depression:sadness, tearfulness, also other signs such as sleeplessness, lack of appetite
Food issues:refusal to eat, fussy eating, overeating and eating disorders
Behaviour:uncooperative behaviour, antisocial behaviour, slamming doors, shouting, swearing
Self-harm:cutting, drinking alcohol, taking drugs, risky behaviour eg. bets and dares on train tracks
ON AMAZON
The level three handbook
Transitions in the Early Years: A practical guide to supporting children between early years settings and into Key Stage 1