Multiple influences on children's transition to school

Children’s transition to school has been described in the literature as a developmental transition. Developmental changes in children’s lives have been investigated in my research by taking an ecological perspective, which acknowledges multiple influences on children’s development and the reciprocal influences children have on relationships and contexts. Bronfenbrenner’s ecological approach has been drawn on by a number of researchers to model the process of transition and adjustment to school. In Australia, pivotal research into children’s development, the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children, has used an ecological perspective to ground the research in theory and practice, as has the Child Care Choices project. By viewing the child as an active agent in their learning, development and well-being throughout the transition period, these large, longitudinal, studies have paved the way for future research to have a stronger focus on transition to school and take into account the multiple influences on transition.