During their lives children and young people all experience some sort of transitions. These could be either common transitions or less common transitions. Common transitions include; being left with an unfamiliar carer, changing schools, starting puberty. Less common transitions include; them, a family member or friend becomes seriously ill, or dies, them or a close friend moves away, their parents split up and get divorce meaning they have to live with only one parent or between the two.
Explain how to give adult support for each transitions:
- Changing school. Moving schools can be scary for any child, as an adult you can offer then support and comfort to make them feel more comfortable and settle into their new setting and not feel nervous or scared about being somewhere unfamiliar.
- Being left with an unfamiliar carer. If the parent needs to go to work then they may hire a baby sitter or put into a nursery, the child may feel scared and upset about being left with people he/she doesn’t know. As the person looking after the child you can comfort them and try make them feel comfortable and calm them down if they are upset about being left by their parents.
- Going through puberty. Puberty can be a confusing time for a child, with all the different things happening to their body they may be confused as to why this is happening, and feel like there is something wrong. As an adult you c sit them down and talk to them about what is happening to them and reassure them that it is normal and all a part of growing up, and help them understand what else to expect over the years to come to put their mind at ease and make them feel more comfortable with the changes happening to their body.
- A loved one falling ill or dying. When the loved one of a child falls ill or even dies that are most likely to feel very upset, you can help comfort them by reassuring them that no matter what happens things will be ok, and that you know it’s a hard time for them. You can try doing things with them that will take their minds off of the terrible news to stop them being too upset all the time and make them feel happy and occupied.
- Parents splitting up and getting divorced. Parents splitting up can be a stressful and upsetting time for a child. As an adult you can support them and comfort them through this hard time, you could sit down with them and ask them how they feel and maybe do some activities with them to take their mind off it for a little while.
- Themselves or a close friend moving house. If a child’s close friend moves away they may feel upset that their friend has left, and maybe anxious about making new friends. As an adult you can encourage them to play with other children and get them to take part in activities with other children so they can try and make new friends, and as for them feeling upset you can comfort them and try get them to have fun so it c slip their mind. If they move and have to go to a new school, make new friends ect.
As a parent or teacher you can comfort them and let them get used to where they are and not feel nervous or scared about being somewhere new and unfamiliar and help them to make friends, by asking them to join in activities, join an after school club or an out of school club where they will meet new people and get to know them.
