Question

Difficulty: EasyDevelopmental Stages and Transitions

A nurse is evaluating a 24-month-old toddler during a routine well-child visit. Which play behavior should the nurse expect this child to demonstrate based on typical developmental stages?

  1. A
    Actively sharing toys and collaborating with peers to build a block tower.
  2. Playing independently next to other children with similar toys without interacting with them.Answer
  3. C
    Participating in organized group games that require following specific rules.
  4. D
    Assigning specific roles to other children during a complex pretend game.

Answer

Playing independently next to other children with similar toys without interacting with them.
Toddlers around 24 months of age are in the stage of parallel play. During this stage, they enjoy playing near other children and often use similar toys, but they do not actively interact, share, or collaborate with each other. This reflects their egocentric cognitive stage and developing autonomy.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the client's developmental age.
The client is a 24-month-old toddler.
Play behaviors are strongly correlated with specific age ranges and developmental stages.
2
Recall the expected play stage for a toddler.
Toddlers typically engage in parallel play.
Parallel play involves playing alongside others without mutual interaction, matching the cognitive and social development of a 2-year-old.
3
Select the option that defines parallel play.
The description of playing independently next to other children matches this developmental expectation.
This confirms the correct application of developmental milestones to the clinical scenario.

Key Concept

Toddler Developmental Milestones: Parallel Play
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