Growth and Development Q 3
The nurse is planning care for an 18 month-old child. Which of the following should be included in the child’s care?
A. Hold and cuddle the child often
B. Encourage the child to feed himself finger food
C. Allow the child to walk independently on the nursing unit
D. Engage the child in games with other children
Correct Answer: B. Encourage the child to feed himself finger food.
According to Erikson, the toddler is in the stage of autonomy versus shame and doubt. The nurse should encourage increasingly independent activities of daily living. Gaining a sense of personal control over the world is important at this stage of development. Children at this age are becoming increasingly independent and want to gain more control over what they do and how they do it.
Option A: This refers to the Erickson stage of trust vs mistrust where the child develops a sense of trust after receiving consistent and reliable care. Children who learn to trust caregivers in infancy will be more likely to form trusting relationships with others throughout the course of their lives.
Option C: This refers to the Erickson stage of identity vs role confusion where the child is becoming more independent. Those who receive proper encouragement and reinforcement through personal exploration will emerge from this stage with a strong sense of self and a feeling of independence and control.
Option D: This refers to the Erickson stage of initiative vs guilt where the child begins to develop interpersonal skills by spending their time playing with other children. During the initiative versus guilt stage, children begin to assert their power and control over the world through directing play and other social interaction.