The role of transitions to new age groups in the development of institutionalized children

Children in two institutions in St. Petersburg (Russian Federation) experienced ward transitions, one in which caregivers were trained to provide sensitive, responsive caregiving and one that conducted business as usual. A third institution eliminated transitions, received the same training, and implemented a variety of structural and employment changes designed to promote improved caregiver-child interactions and relationships. While the no-transition comprehensive intervention group of children steadily improved in Battelle Developmental Inventory (LINC Associates, 1988) scores across all age intervals, the children in the institution who encouraged some positive caregiver-child interactions improved before and after, but not during, an age period that involved a transition. In contrast, the no-treatment group displayed no developmental changes across any age period with or without a transition. These results suggest that the common institutional practice of ward transitions to new peers and caregivers is potentially disruptive to infants' and toddlers' general development, but primarily in a context in which some degree of caregiver-child sensitive and responsive interactions are encouraged.