K2T1112 Support children through transitions in their lives

K2T1112 Support children through transitions in their lives.

Transitions in children’s lives for each of the following are ranges:

Birth to 3 years

• Being born and entering the outside world.
• Learning and developing new skills.
• Eating solid food and learning to feed them selves.
• Learning to sit up.
• Learning to crawl and walk.
• Learning to communicate.
• Learning toilet training.
• Attending Day care.
• Going to a child minder.
• Leaving Parents.
• Starting Pre-school.
• Arrival of a new sibling.
• Introduction to different family members.
• Family structure change.

Transition from supported sitting to sitting up unaided is around the age of 8 months.  The changes start from the age of 6 months when the child will sit held with their head firmly erect and back straight they may also sit alone momentarily and by the age of 9 months the child will be able to sit alone for 10-15 minutes on the floor giving them a whole new view point on their surroundings.  They can lean forward to pick up an object without losing their balance.

Transition from Rolling over to being mobile and crawling starts around 9 months of age.  The child will be able to lift themselves onto their hands and knees and push back on their knees and rock they will practice this movement over and over again.  This movement will help develop strong hand and leg muscles most children learn to crawl on their own and naturally understand how to move opposite limbs at the same time.

3 – 7 years

• Learning and developing new skills
• Attending School Nursery or Pre-school.
• Changing between different settings i.e. new school, new classroom and teacher.
• Leaving Parents.
• Going to a child minder.
• Joining after school clubs.
• Leaving friends.
• Moving house or relocating.
• Family structure change.
• Arrival of a new sibling.
• Starting new activities such as sports.
• Completing homework.

Starting Nursery or pre-school children may shows sign of separation anxiety as this may be first time they have been left by their parents / carer.  This could also be the first time for some children when they have had to interact with other children of the same age.   At this age most children have limited socialising skills and are still learning and adapting to new experiences.

The arrival of a new sibling will impact the child / children in several different ways, having to share their parent’s attention, love and time.  The child / children may feel left out and excluded. This may even result in negative behaviour to seek attention.

7 – 12 years

• Changing to different settings.
• Starting new school.
• Leaving friends
• Arrival of a new sibling.
• Moving house or relocating
• Family structure change.
• Meeting new friends.
• Completing homework.
• Onset of hormones / puberty.

Some children may face very particular and personal transitions when either a close family member has a serious illness or the death of a close relative which will impact and change the whole family structure.  Most children will experience delayed grieving until they feel that their parents are moving on and it is their turn to express their feelings.  Children can also regress back in their development for a while because of sadness, anxiety and a new awareness of death and loss.

When starting a new school most children will feel nervous and anxious with mixing with older children and being in a larger environment.  They will have greater expectations and responsibilities and may be entering a more structured curriculum.  The child / children may find it hard returning back to being the youngest year group within the new school.

12 – 16 years.

• Moving on to college, university or starting a job.
• Leaving friends.
• Leaving home to start at university.
• Family structure change.
• Completing homework.
• Choosing options / career.
• Examinations.
• Hormones / puberty.
• Moving house or relocating.

The onset of puberty will affect all children with hormonal changes.

• In boys these include the production of the sex hormone testosterone which will result in the rapid growth of their forehead, jaw line and facial hair.  This also triggers the voice to break, sweat glands to produce a different type of sweat.  The boy’s testicles and penis will start to enlarge and pubic hair will grow.
• In girls these include the production of two sex hormones oestrogen which initiates puberty and progesterone which prepares the body for pregnancy.  This also triggers sweat glands to produce a different type of sweat, the enlargement of the breast, areola and milk ducts, pubic hair will grow and the pelvic bone and hips will widen with the onset of the menstrual cycle.

All children at the age of 14 will have to choose main options or subjects to study.  These choices may influence secondary education, higher education or their future career.  As these choices will affect the child into adulthood there is a great responsibility on the child to study the right subject and not to just follow their peers.  This may involve the realisation and acceptance that the child may enjoy a subject but not have the academic ability to succeed.

You may find these resources useful when completing the course.

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This post is part of the 203 Support Childrens Development • NVQ Level 2 section, which forms the Childcare Learning And Development website.