3.3 Discuss how transitions and other significant events impact babies and young children

Qualification: NCFE CACHE Level 2 Diploma for the Early Years Practitioner
Unit: EYP 11: Support the needs of babies and young children with Special Educational Needs and Disability
Learning outcome: 3. Understand the impact of transition
Assessment criteria: 3.3 Discuss how transitions and other significant events impact babies and young children

• 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
• For SEND children, transitions may make them aware that they are different to other children, which can be an emotional realisation – practitioners should be aware of this and provide support