Understand the Potential Effects of Transitions on Children and Young People
Unit 201 Child and young person development
Outcome 3: Understand the potential effects of transitions on children and young people
3.1 Identify the transitions experienced by most children and young people
3.3 Describe with examples how transitions may affect children and young people’s behaviour and development
Under each heading, explain how each aspect may impact on a child’s behaviour & development, giving examples.
• Puberty:
Puberty is a major transition that all children at some point, will have to go through. It can be a difficult time for both sexes emotionally, socially and physically. Behaviour will change and so will their physical appearance, which may cause them to feel insecure, especially if they are female. Peer approval will become increasingly important and may be related to physical development. Males may show more aggressive behaviour as their hormone levels increase and females may become insecure about late development or embarrassed about early development. Both sexes will be very aware of their changes and will compare their own rate of development with that of their friends. Most, reach puberty around the same time, some develop earlier and some later. Boys who develop more quickly are often found to be more popular and independent. Girls, however, if developing earlier than their friends tend to get teased and have a more negative experience. The development of breasts can be very embarrassing for a girl, as it may bring a lot of unwanted comments and attention, not only from boys, but also from other girls who may be jealous of the attention the girl is getting, or may be teasing and gossiping. This can lower a person’s confidence and make them feel very uncomfortable. Changing for sports in a communal area could become an issue, with other girls staring, and may make the young person stay away from sports, preferring to go sick, rather than endure the unwanted attention. Starting periods can also be embarrassing.
Outcome 3: Understand the potential effects of transitions on children and young people
3.1 Identify the transitions experienced by most children and young people
3.3 Describe with examples how transitions may affect children and young people’s behaviour and development
Under each heading, explain how each aspect may impact on a child’s behaviour & development, giving examples.
• Puberty:
Puberty is a major transition that all children at some point, will have to go through. It can be a difficult time for both sexes emotionally, socially and physically. Behaviour will change and so will their physical appearance, which may cause them to feel insecure, especially if they are female. Peer approval will become increasingly important and may be related to physical development. Males may show more aggressive behaviour as their hormone levels increase and females may become insecure about late development or embarrassed about early development. Both sexes will be very aware of their changes and will compare their own rate of development with that of their friends. Most, reach puberty around the same time, some develop earlier and some later. Boys who develop more quickly are often found to be more popular and independent. Girls, however, if developing earlier than their friends tend to get teased and have a more negative experience. The development of breasts can be very embarrassing for a girl, as it may bring a lot of unwanted comments and attention, not only from boys, but also from other girls who may be jealous of the attention the girl is getting, or may be teasing and gossiping. This can lower a person’s confidence and make them feel very uncomfortable. Changing for sports in a communal area could become an issue, with other girls staring, and may make the young person stay away from sports, preferring to go sick, rather than endure the unwanted attention. Starting periods can also be embarrassing.