Children's memories of starting school: Building and sharing transitions capital. Issue 3 (September 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Schürer, Maja Højslet; Dockett, Sue; Perry, Bob
• Is Part Of: Australasian journal of early childhood. Volume 47:Issue 3(2022)
• Page Start: 181
• Page End: 192
• Publication Date: 2022-09
• Subjects: children´s memories -- transition capital -- transition to school -- children´s perspective; Early childhood education -- Periodicals; Child care services -- Periodicals; Early childhood education -- Australasia -- Periodicals; Child care services -- Australasia -- Periodicals; Child development -- Periodicals; Child care services; Child development; Early childhood education; Australasia; Periodicals; 372.21
• DOI: 10.1177/18369391221095570
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1836-9391

Abstract

This paper explores memories of children in the upper years of primary school about their transition into the first year of school and the ways in which this transition impacted on their ongoing relationship with primary school. The insights shared by eleven Year four and five students (aged 10–11 years; five boys and six girls) in an Australian primary school contribute to understandings of the strategies children develop and utilise in their educational transitions (transitions capital), not only in the transition to school but also in ongoing educational transitions throughout school. The older children reflected on their younger selves related to transitions expectations, and experiences and illustrated their strategies for self-management of change, positioning them as potential resources within transition programs. Despite this, the participants reported that their expertise and experience generally were not acknowledged, and they were often not invited to contribute to transition programs involving new school entrants.