Child development

• Mathematics
• Further Education (Key Stage 5)

Element 7 - Child Development

T - Level in Education and Early Years 

Session 11 

ZE30801 

[e-mail]

Learning Objectives 

By the end of the session, all learners will be able to: 

1. Recap and recall the impact of positive friendships and impact this can have on children and young people. 
2. Understand and explain the difference between expected and unexpected transitions and this could have a positive and negative affect on children. 
3. Explore different strategies practitioners can use to support and prepare children for any type of transition. 
4. Create a leaflet to clearly explain the importance of transitions and why practitioners should have knowledge about how to support children. 

Starter activity

In pairs mind map everything you know about 

Pavlov's classical conditioning theory?

How friendships can positively impact children - Recap

On your mini whiteboard write one way friendships can have a positive impact on children and young people?

Expected transitions 

A transition is a term used to describe when a change or disruption occurs in someone's life.

Some transitions will have an indirect affect on children's learning and development even if they are expected.

Expected transition: 

This is a transition that the child has been made aware of, often parents will share this with the child. 

- Changes in the family 

- Transitioning to a reception class

-Moving home

Unexpected transitions: 

This is a change in a child's life that occurs that are not planned. Often this form of transition can be stressful for the child. 

For example: Bereavement

5 min research task 

Research & take notes in your book about: 

• 5 x expected transitions & the impact on the child.
• 5 x unexpected transitions & the impact on the child.

Strategies to support transitions

Understanding the right strategies to support children during transitions is very important specifically for different age ranges.

On a flip chart paper, work together to jot down different strategies you could use to support transitions and 1 reason for each why it is a good strategy. 

For example: supporting transitions to school can be supported by adding uniform in the home corner or visits to a local school. this is beneficial as it provides children a real life experience of what they may expect during the transition.

Strategies to support transitions

There are many strategies practitioners can use to support children going through different transitions.

Informing the child of the transition if expected.

Opportunities to discuss feelings and ask questions.

Involving children in the transition process. For example: drawing a picture of a new home.

Buddy system or having a mentor 

Supporting settling in's during room transitions.

Working in partnership with parents and professionals.

Role play activities to support transitions to school.

Which one if the following is an example of an unplanned transition?

1. starting swimming lessons
2. Going on holiday
3. Starting school
4. Death of a parent

Individual application task

We are now going to step away from the chrome books. 

Create a leaflet by hand to clearly explain the importance of transitions and why practitioners should have knowledge about how to support children during different transitions - both expected and unexpected.