Getting transition right is vital for every child and is not a single event that merely happens. Transition should be viewed as a process rather than an event that involves children, practitioners and parents/carers together. Transition has been described as an ongoing journey rather than a destination.
There are three main types of transition:
From when they are born, babies and young children manage changes in their lives on a daily basis.
When small changes are supported by responsive, knowledgeable adults, children will gradually discover that the world is a safe and predictable place. As strong and competent learners, this will stand them in good stead when faced with the challenge of experiencing the bigger changes that will inevitably come their way.
Transitions are a time or process of change and it is natural that change almost always brings uncertainty. In an early learning and childcare setting there are several transitions we expect a child to manage, firstly from home to the setting, from playroom to playroom, from person to person. It can be a frequent time of change. Transitions can also be exciting and challenging but it is still essential that these are handled sensitively, inclusively and positively.
Dunlop and Fabian (2007) shows that:
'the way in which the first transitions are handled could potentially have a significant impact on the child's capacity to cope with change in the short and long term’.
Pre-Birth to Three.
Positive Outcomes for Scotland's Children and Families.
There are 10 steps to planning and preparation for transitions.