A Transition is a movement, passage or change from one position, state, stage, subject or concept to another. The change can be gradual or sudden and last for differing time periods, meaning some transitions are short term while others are long term. Children make transitions without prior experience so it may feel daunting such as their first day at school, first exam or first sexual expression. Most children will experience many transitions within their life; the most common transitions that most children experience are detailed below.
One common transition that children experience is moving home whether it is within the same town the already live in or to a new city. Moving from the street they know and the house they have grown up in surrounded by their friends can be a very daunting experience for children as it’s the unknown. It may cause them to become frustrated as they are been torn away from favourite places and old friends. They will also feel anxious about moving to a new town and neighbourhood and worry about making new friends.
Friends may also move away either from their neighbourhood or they could move schools. This may leave the child feeling like they have lost a friend, they may feel nervous about making new friends leading them to feel anxious and shy. They will also experience upset if their friend is moving far away and they are not likely to see them again i.e. if they emigrate.
Puberty is a transition that all children will experience but they will all experience puberty at a different ages while some girls start puberty around the age of 11 others don’t start till they are 15, this is also the case with boys. Puberty can be a scary thing to go through as a child it may leave them feeling confused about the changes going on in their bodies, they may also begin to feel self-conscious for example if they are maturing slower or faster than friends as they will