Supporting Young People’s Developmental Transitions
Supporting Young People’s Developmental Transitions
Growing up involves constant change. From moving out of a cot, saying goodbye to a dummy, and starting school, to learning to drive, getting a job, or leaving home, every step forward is part of a much bigger journey.
These milestones aren’t just about growing older. They’re developmental transitions—key moments when young people must adapt to new environments, expectations, and challenges. Each transition calls on emotional, social, and cognitive skills that are still developing.
What are developmental transitions?
Developmental transitions are significant shifts in a young person’s life—times when they’re expected to take on new roles, responsibilities, or ways of thinking. These might include:
• Starting school
• Moving from primary to secondary school
• Navigating puberty
• Leaving school
• Entering the workforce or university
• Gaining access to adult freedoms and responsibilities (e.g., driving, alcohol, voting)
Each of these moments brings opportunities—but also vulnerability.
The mismatch between age and readiness
In Australia, many transitions are pegged to chronological age. Children typically start school around age 5, enter high school at 12 or 13, and are considered “adults” by 18.
But development doesn’t follow a strict calendar.
A child might be intellectually ready for school but emotionally overwhelmed by the demands of the classroom. A 13-year-old might be navigating puberty while still learning to manage friendships and frustration. And at 18, a young person may find themselves simultaneously finishing school, learning to drive, gaining access to alcohol, and expected to make decisions about study, work, and adult life—all before they feel equipped.
This rigid, age-based system often fails to accommodate the huge variation in development across individuals. It can place enormous pressure on those who need more time to grow into each stage.
Why transitions increase vulnerability
Each major transition is linked with a heightened risk of mental health difficulties, particularly when a young person’s developmental readiness doesn’t match the demands of their environment.
• Around 14% of Australian children aged 4–17 meet criteria for a mental disorder in any given year, with anxiety most common among teens.
• The transition to high school is linked with rising rates of emotional distress, peer problems, and reduced engagement, especially for vulnerable or neurodivergent students.
• By age 18, three in four young people in Melbourne report clinically significant symptoms of anxiety or depression (Murdoch Children’s Research Institute).
• More than 75% of all lifetime mental health conditions emerge before age 25 (Kessler et al., 2005).
These aren’t just statistics—they reflect what we see every day in therapy: young people struggling not because they’ve failed, but because the system hasn’t allowed them to develop at their own pace.
What makes transitions so challenging?
During transitions, young people are asked to do a lot:
• Adapt to new routines, environments, or social norms
• Manage increased academic, emotional, or organisational demands
• Cope with changes in self-image, identity, and relationships
• Function with less predictability, structure, or support than before
These demands can quickly become overwhelming—especially for those with anxiety, ADHD, autism, learning difficulties, or other neurodevelopmental differences.
How adults can help
We can’t avoid transitions—but we can prepare for them, support them, and individualise them. Here’s how:
1. Talk about upcoming changes early
2. Break down the transition into manageable steps
3. Acknowledge the emotional impact
4. Match expectations to developmental needs
5. Offer agency
6. Stay connected
Transitions as turning points
While transitions can stir up stress or uncertainty, they also offer opportunities to build resilience, strengthen relationships, and develop a deeper sense of identity. With thoughtful support, young people can emerge from these experiences not just intact—but thriving.
At Future Minds Psychology, we specialise in supporting young people through these key stages of development. Our team provides therapy, assessments, and school consultations to help children, teens, and families navigate transitions with confidence and understanding. Whether your child is about to start school, facing the leap into adolescence, or moving toward adulthood, we’re here to guide the journey—at a pace that works for them.
Need support for a young person in transition?
Our psychologists at Future Minds offer evidence-based, compassionate care tailored to children, teens, and young adults.
