Explain_How_Different_Types_of_Transition_Can_Affect_Children_and_Young_People’s_Development.

Children and young people naturally pass through a number of stages as they grow and develop. Often, they will also be expected to cope with changes such as movement from primary to secondary school and, for children with disabilities or chronic ill health, from children’s to adults’ services. Such changes are commonly referred to as transitions. Some transitions (such as starting school, moving through curriculum stages or puberty) are predictable. Children should be prepared in advance, and have the opportunity to talk and ask questions about these changes. In this way any negative impacts can be minimised, and the transition should be less stressful for the child or young person. Some children may have to face very particular and personal transitions which the young person cannot be prepared in advance, and there will be no opportunity to discuss the change before it happens these include: family illness or the death of a close relative; divorce and family break-up; issues related to sexuality; adoption; the process of asylum; disability; parental mental health; and the consequences of crime. It is important to understand a child or young person in the context of their life, to recognise and understand the impact of any transitions they may be going through. Some of the transitions the children and young people in care include: - Changes in the body - Moving from home into care - Starting/changing schools - Residential care to leaving care - Becoming independent Moving into a new setting like changing schools, preschool to school, changing young groups or leaving care can be emotionally upsetting. Some children might be showing anxiousness at moving, sadness at moving and or loss of friends. This can change their behaviour younger children might show regression and clinginess. Children and young people might change behaviour and some might withdrawal other might show extroverted behaviour or illness. They might have a real illness or pretend so they don’t have to go. Older and younger children might have sleepless nights young children might have night mares, young people might be frightened of their future or where they might live. This can affect eating habits they might not have an appetite Transition in school is about managing the social and emotional aspects of transition, but it is also concerned with managing the continuity of learning, so that there is little, if any, impact on learning. Again it is important to prepare the child, be supportive and identify any child who may need particular support. To make transition easier for children we need to make conditions as similar as possible, so that changes occur in a gradual way over a period of time. Good communication is essential to making this work well. Moving home can be very stressful like moving settings children and young people can lose friends. They face the same emotional, psychical, physiological and intellectual affects as the moving settings but they also have the problem of a new county/country this can also affect them as they might be viewed as an outsider. Bereavement, serious illness or separation of a family - Because these changes are not anticipated, they can cause distress and feelings of lack of control in the child or young person. This can affect emotional and behavioural development, in turn leading to possible impacts on physiological and intellectual development. Physically they might suffer from a lack of sleep, have little or no appetite or they could possibly self harm. Older children or young people might cut themselves or something like drugs. Physiologically they might change behaviour this can include regressive behaviour, extrovert behaviour may be just uncooperative behaviour like slamming doors, staying out late or getting into trouble. Intellectual changes can include a lack of concentration, not joining in activities. The child or young person’s life seems to have turned upside down, causing confusion and uncertainty. The child or young person can experience powerful emotions of anger, sadness, fear and insecurity. The child will need help and support to come through these traumatic experiences. The family may be able to provide this, but in some homes the child may be left unsupported Puperty – Puberty is a time of physical and emotional development marking the transition from childhood to adolescence. The effects of puberty are both physiological and psychological. One of the most common effects of puberty is a sense of heightened self-awareness, or self-consciousness. Puberty brings many physical changes, and adolescents become aware, for the first time, that these changes are not only noticeable to themselves but to others as well. This can be a particularly difficult time for young children and some may require a lot more support than others.