Everything changes...

Babies are born completely dependent on adults for all their needs to be met. As they grow they develop physically, developing motor skills, which are continually refined until full maturity is reached. Children start to talk from around 1 year progressing from babbling to using simple words, building on their vocabulary and gradually learning to communicate effectively. Many older children learn to speak a second language.

Young people learn skills that are not solely academic, they learn how to behave in social settings. Their emotional development means that children go from being completely self centred and insular to developing a strong sense of identity and confidence.

It is usual for children to be educated in different schools appropriate to their age, throughout their academic career. Many experience nursery or pre-school then move on to schools, with some extending their school years by attending colleges or universities.

Young people experience the physical and emotional changes that are associated with puberty. Often they become insecure, due to the changes in appearance of their bodies, and emotionally volatile with the increase of hormones required to develop into mature adulthood.These are some of the natural transitions that the majority of children and young people experience and with support they come through them able to cope with the changes.

A few young people will experience transitions specific to them, which may result in them not reaching their expected developmental targets at the usual time. There are many factors which affect the development of children and these examples are not exhaustive.
Disability, due to accident or illness, may result in poor attendance at school and feelings of insecurity as they watch their peers participate in activities that they cannot join in with. An accident resulting in damage to the brain may mean that a child regresses to an earlier phase of life, with intellectual development being stunted or even regressed.

There may be a long-term or terminal illness of a family member that brings difficulties for children. They may have to take absences from school to assist with care. Children may be concerned about death, or worry that they themselves will become ill resulting in lack of concentration.

The bereavement of a close relative can cause children to worry about their other family members, although, sometimes they may appear to have been unaffected by the death.
Another transition that children and young people find themselves having to cope with is the separation or divorce of their parents. These children are often confused, possibly having to act as mediators between parents.Children experiencing different transitions in their lives will often require different support. It is important to identify their needs and provide the support so as they reach their full potential.

D Worthington