Evaluate the effect on children and young people of having positive relationships during periods of transition.  

A ‘transition’ is defined as the process or the period of changing from one state/condition to another (Oxford Dictionaries, 2019). When considering the effect of transition on children and young people, I believe it is crucial to perceive a transition in any circumstance of life as a process rather than an upcoming event. Stability is essential in a child’s early years however, change is often unavoidable as they will inevitably experience numerous emotional, physical, intellectual, physiological and environmental transitions throughout childhood, puberty, adolescence and finally into adulthood. In unfortunate circumstances, a number of these transitions will be induced by events such as divorce, bereavement, new  siblings, step families, moving house and school etc. (Goldscheider & Goldscheider, 1994), and therefore elicit stress and other negative emotions on the child/young person. This therefore highlights the importance of having positive relationships in place during these periods of transition. The main effect of this on children/young people is to ease the process and achieve the best possible outcome, with the least possible disruptions to care and daily routine.

In order to successfully function within society, children/young people need to learn and develop the capacity to form and maintain relationships. Having the ability to form these positive relationships appropriately is a key component to having a mentally healthy state of mind and a positive sense of well-being. This is true for both children and young people and thus provides an important framework in developing future relationships. Typically, all parents/caregivers will have a relationship with their child however it’s the quality of this relationship that will have an impact both at present and later in life. Relationships should be consistent and sensitive to ensure that secure attachments are made. When considering periods of transition, the early years of life are crucial. As children/young people begin to transition into adolescence, it is expected that changes in mentality will have a positive impact on the quality of parent-child relationships. As children begin to experience the transition from childhood to adolescence, significant adults (often parents) are able to make adjustments accordingly that can alleviate stresses and strains in the relationship. Additionally, as children make this transition, they are likely to experience the same roles and responsibilities as their significant adults, resulting in a common understanding (Thornton et al., 1995).

Positive relationships between parents/caregivers and practitioners are fundamental for a successful transition, particularly when in school/residential settings.