Growth and Development Q 49
The parents of a two (2)-year-old boy arrive at a hospital for a visit. The child is in the playroom when the parents arrive. When the parents enter the playroom, the child does not readily approach the parents. The nurse interprets this behavior as indicating that:
A. The child is withdrawn
B. The child is self-centered
C. The child has adjusted to the hospitalized setting
D. This is a normal pattern
Correct Answer: D. This is a normal pattern.
The phases through which young children progress when separated from their parents include protest, despair, and denial or detachment. In the stage of despair, the child may not approach them readily or may cling to a parent.
Option A: In the stage of protest, when the parents return, the child readily goes to them. The protest phase begins immediately upon separation and lasts up to weeks on end. It is indicated by outward signs of distress such as crying, tantrum behavior, and searching for the return of the parent. Protest decreases during the despair phase, and children become withdrawn and helpless.
Option B: While it may be frustrating to have children who appear to be self-centered, unrelenting, and impulsive, it can be comforting to learn that these traits are typical of the development of all children. When children are listened to and their feelings are accepted, they are more likely to respond to other people with understanding and compassion.
Option C: In denial or detachment, when the parents return, the child becomes cheerful, interested in the environment and new persons (seemingly unaware of the lost parents), friendly with the staff, and interested in developing superficial relationships.