Topic 1.1 External Transition: Impacts on Children

Research tell us that multiple external transitions:
Can be more harmful than helpful to children.
May impact a child’s social-emotional and behavioral growth. Children experiencing multiple external transitions may …
Show verbal or physical aggression toward teachers and peers due to anger or sadness about the move to another child care setting.
Show fear.
Show tantrum behavior during routine changes in the daily routine.
Take longer to learn the routines of the new child care setting.
Regress with potty training or self-care routines.
Have a hard time focusing or following directions.
Show separation anxiety at drop off or when teachers change throughout the day.
Take longer to show mastery with previously mastered educational tasks like writing letters or counting.
Increases the risk of being suspended or expelled from school when they are older.
Increases the risk for failing a grade or being held back.
Increases the risk a child will drop out of school before graduation.
Can lead to a more negative attitude.
Increases the risk of going to jail or prison.
When a child makes many external transitions:
The process for teachers to identify developmental delays must start over with each move.
It can be harder to notice developmental delays and disabilities due to the natural occurrence of regression each time a child moves to a new child care setting.
It takes longer for the child to be referred for evaluation or treatment.
The behaviors of a child who is reacting to multiple external transitions can look like a developmental delay.