A nurse is offering anticipatory guidance on child development to the parents of a toddler. Which developmental task should the nurse mention as being expected of a toddler?
Explains the difference between right and wrong.
Cooperates in performing simple chores.
Prints letters and numbers.
Separates easily from primary caregiver for short periods of time.
The Correct Answer is D
The correct answer is Choice D
Choice A rationale: Moral reasoning, including distinguishing right from wrong, requires abstract cognitive processing and internalization of social norms, typically emerging during the concrete operational stage around age 7. Toddlers are in Piaget’s sensorimotor to early preoperational phase, where egocentrism dominates and behavior is guided by immediate consequences rather than ethical principles. They lack the neurological maturity and social-cognitive integration required for moral discourse, making this milestone developmentally inappropriate for the toddler age group.
Choice B rationale: Performing simple chores involves task comprehension, motor coordination, and social cooperation, which are more consistently observed in preschool-aged children (4–5 years). Toddlers may imitate adult actions but lack sustained attention, impulse control, and fine motor precision needed for chore completion. Their psychosocial development is centered on autonomy and exploration, not structured responsibility. Expecting chore cooperation at this stage exceeds normative developmental expectations and may lead to frustration or behavioral resistance.
Choice C rationale: Printing letters and numbers requires advanced fine motor control, visual-motor integration, and symbolic cognition, typically achieved between ages 5 and 6. Toddlers are still developing basic hand-eye coordination and may engage in scribbling, but they lack the neuromuscular refinement and cognitive mapping needed for structured writing. Neurodevelopmental milestones do not support this skill in the toddler phase, making it scientifically inaccurate to expect printing behavior before preschool age.
Choice D rationale: By age 3, toddlers begin to tolerate brief separations from primary caregivers due to improved object permanence, emotional regulation, and social awareness. This aligns with Erikson’s autonomy vs. shame and doubt stage, where toddlers explore independence while maintaining secure attachment. Separation anxiety peaks around 9–18 months and typically declines by age 3. The ability to separate easily for short periods reflects healthy psychosocial development and is a scientifically appropriate expectation for toddlers.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Intussusception is a serious condition in which part of the intestine slides into an adjacent part of the intestine. This “telescoping” often blocks food or fluid from passing through.
Intussusception also cuts off the blood supply to the part of the intestine that’s affected. It can lead to a tear in the bowel (perforation), infection and death of bowel tissue.
Choice B rationale
Wilms’ tumor is a rare kidney cancer that primarily affects children. Also known as nephroblastoma, Wilms’ tumor is the most common cancer of the kidneys in children. Wilms’ tumor most often affects children ages 3 to 4 and becomes much less common after age 52.
Choice C rationale
Pyloric stenosis is a condition that affects infants between birth and 6 months of age and causes forceful vomiting that can lead to dehydration. It’s the second most common reason why newborns have surgery. Pyloric stenosis can be fixed with a surgical procedure called pyloromyotomy.
Choice D rationale
Nephrotic syndrome is a kidney disorder that causes your body to excrete too much protein in your urine. Nephrotic syndrome is usually caused by damage to the clusters of small blood vessels in your kidneys that filter waste and excess water from your blood.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Streptococcal pharyngitis, also known as strep throat, is a bacterial infection that causes inflammation and pain in the throat. This condition is spread through respiratory droplets, not through the air, and does not require airborne precautions.
Choice B rationale
Scabies is caused by a mite infestation, not an airborne pathogen. It is spread through direct skin-to-skin contact and does not require airborne precautions.
Choice C rationale
Measles is a highly contagious virus that lives in the nose and throat mucus of an infected person. It can spread to others through coughing and sneezing, and the measles virus can live for up to two hours in an airspace where the infected person coughed or sneezed. Therefore, a patient with measles requires airborne precautions.
Choice D rationale
Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. It spreads through close contact with respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It is typically managed with droplet precautions, not airborne precautions.
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