Beyond Visible Compliance: A Case Study of a Young Child’s Transition to Nursery Care

Abstract Early transition to nursery care is often understood through visible protest at separation, yet some children show distress in quieter ways. This qualitative single-case study examined the first nursery transition of Elif, a 3-year-old girl in Türkiye with no reported developmental diagnosis who was experiencing regular separation from her parents for the first time. The dataset comprised 22 Tavistock-informed observation protocols gathered across arrival and departure moments over 3 months, eight seminar protocols, and semi-structured interviews with Elif’s mother, father, and teacher. Analysis combined chronological reconstruction, focused coding of interview transcripts, and cross-source triangulation. Findings indicated a marked contrast between outward composure and inner strain. Although Elif often appeared calm at drop-off, classroom observations showed silent crying, bodily tension, hesitant communication, reduced appetite, and continued reliance on a stuffed rabbit interpreted as serving a transitional function. Across time, distress became less pervasive and participation widened: peer contact increased, speech became freer, and clearer signs of trust, enjoyment, and belonging emerged by the third month. Interview data deepened this picture by showing that apparently smooth arrivals did not fully reflect the child’s internal experience. The case suggests that nursery adaptation should not be judged only through overt protest, since quiet compliance may mask substantial emotional work.