Describe potential effects of transition and significant events on a child’s life

Qualification: Level 3 Diploma for the Early Years Educator
Unit: Unit 1.4: Promote children’s emotional well-being
Learning outcome: 3 Understand the needs of children during transition and significant events
Assessment criteria: 3.2 Describe potential effects of transition and significant events on a child’s life

• The potential effects of transitions and significant events on a child’s life can include:
  • Short-term emotional effects – sadness, crying, anger, aggression, withdrawal etc.
  • Long-term emotional effects – depression, anxiety, decrease in self-confidence/self-esteem etc.
  • Stress – this can also affect the immune system, making a child more prone to becoming ill
  • Short-term behavioural effects – changes to the child’s normal behaviour such as loss of appetitie, regression, becoming clingy, inability to concentrate etc.
  • Long-term behavioural effects – anti-social behaviour, self-harm, abuse, bullying, breakdown in relationships or inability to establish meaningful relationships, underachievement