A $C^{circ}$ continuous finite element formulation of a higher order displacement theory is presented for predicting linear and geometrically non-linear in the sense of von Karman transient responses of composite and sandwich plates. The displacement model accounts for non-linear cubic variation of tangential displacement components through the thickness of the laminate and the theory requires no shear correction coefficients. In the time domain, the explicit central difference integrator is used in conjunction with the special mass matrix diagonalization scheme which conserves the total mass of the element and included effects due to rotary inertia terms. The parametric effects of the time step, finite element mesh, lamination scheme and orthotropy on the linear and geometrically non-linear responses are investigated. Numerical results for central transverse deflection, stresses and stress resultants are presented for square/rectangular composite and sandwich plates under various boundary conditions and loadings and these are compared with the results from other sources. Some new results are also tabulated for future reference.