Chapter 17: The Toddler
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which behavior reported by a parent of an 18-month-old toddler would the nurse report to the
pediatrician as a cause for concern?
a. Has temper tantrums
b. Feeds self sloppily
c. Walks by holding onto furniture
d. Speaks in short sentences
ANS: C
By 18 months, a toddler should have been walking alone for several months. The toddler who
walks holding onto furniture should be evaluated by a developmental specialist.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Analysis REF: Page 407, Table 17-1
OBJ: 2 TOP: Delayed Walking
KEY: Nursing Process Step: Data Collection
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance: Growth and Development
2. What would the nurse assessing growth and development of a 2-year-old child expect to find?
a. The child jumps with both feet.
b. Twenty deciduous teeth have erupted.
c. The child can hop on one foot.
d. The child has a vocabulary of 900 words.
ANS: A
The 2-year-old can jump with both feet. The remaining achievements occur after 2 years of
age.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: Page 407, Table 17-1
OBJ: 2 TOP: Jumping KEY: Nursing Process Step: Data Collection
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance: Growth and Development
3. A parent remarks, “My 18-month-old daughter carries her blanket around everywhere. Is this
normal?” What is the best explanation a nurse who has an understanding of toddler
development might give?
a. She carries her blanket because she is ritualistic.
b. Carrying her favorite blanket is self-consoling behavior.
c. This behavior can be discouraged by offering new toys to the child.
d. This could be indicative of emotional distress.
ANS: B
Favorite possessions and repetitive rituals are self-consoling behaviors for the toddler.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: Page 406 | Page 410
OBJ: 6 TOP: Self Consoling
KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance: Growth and Development
, 4. The nurse observed three toddlers playing side by side with dolls. Closer observation revealed
that the children were not interacting with one another. What type of play is this?
a. Solitary
b. Parallel
c. Associative
d. Cooperative
ANS: B
Toddlers engage in parallel play. Children play next to, but not with, each other.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: Page 418 OBJ: 11
TOP: Play KEY: Nursing Process Step: Data Collection
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance: Growth and Development
5. What instruction would the nurse include when planning anticipatory guidance for parents of
a toddler?
a. Adhere to a rigid schedule because the toddler is ritualistic.
b. Limit-setting should include praise.
c. Shoes should fit snugly at the toe and arch.
d. Dress the toddler in pants with a zipper so that he or she can learn to zip and unzip
clothes.
ANS: B
Limit-setting should include praise as well as disapproval for undesired behavior.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: Page 410 OBJ: 6
TOP: Limit Setting KEY: Nursing Process Step: Planning
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance: Growth and Development
6. What is the best advice the nurse can offer a parent concerned because her 2-year-old is very
active and does not eat much?
a. Insist that the child eat one food on the plate.
b. Help the child wind down with a quiet activity before mealtime.
c. Maintain a consistent eating schedule for the family.
d. Serve the meal with a variety of interesting plates, cups, and utensils.
ANS: B
Quiet time before meals provides an opportunity for the active toddler to wind down.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: Page 413 OBJ: 9
TOP: Quiet Time KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance: Growth and Development
7. How would the nurse advise a parent who states, “I never know how much food to feed my
child”?
a. Serving sizes should not exceed 1 teaspoon of each type of food.
b. Food quantities must be carefully measured to avoid overfeeding.
c. Use 1 tablespoon of each food for each year of age as a guideline.
d. A toddler should eat three balanced meals. Snacks are not necessary.
ANS: C
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which behavior reported by a parent of an 18-month-old toddler would the nurse report to the
pediatrician as a cause for concern?
a. Has temper tantrums
b. Feeds self sloppily
c. Walks by holding onto furniture
d. Speaks in short sentences
ANS: C
By 18 months, a toddler should have been walking alone for several months. The toddler who
walks holding onto furniture should be evaluated by a developmental specialist.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Analysis REF: Page 407, Table 17-1
OBJ: 2 TOP: Delayed Walking
KEY: Nursing Process Step: Data Collection
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance: Growth and Development
2. What would the nurse assessing growth and development of a 2-year-old child expect to find?
a. The child jumps with both feet.
b. Twenty deciduous teeth have erupted.
c. The child can hop on one foot.
d. The child has a vocabulary of 900 words.
ANS: A
The 2-year-old can jump with both feet. The remaining achievements occur after 2 years of
age.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: Page 407, Table 17-1
OBJ: 2 TOP: Jumping KEY: Nursing Process Step: Data Collection
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance: Growth and Development
3. A parent remarks, “My 18-month-old daughter carries her blanket around everywhere. Is this
normal?” What is the best explanation a nurse who has an understanding of toddler
development might give?
a. She carries her blanket because she is ritualistic.
b. Carrying her favorite blanket is self-consoling behavior.
c. This behavior can be discouraged by offering new toys to the child.
d. This could be indicative of emotional distress.
ANS: B
Favorite possessions and repetitive rituals are self-consoling behaviors for the toddler.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: Page 406 | Page 410
OBJ: 6 TOP: Self Consoling
KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance: Growth and Development
, 4. The nurse observed three toddlers playing side by side with dolls. Closer observation revealed
that the children were not interacting with one another. What type of play is this?
a. Solitary
b. Parallel
c. Associative
d. Cooperative
ANS: B
Toddlers engage in parallel play. Children play next to, but not with, each other.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: Page 418 OBJ: 11
TOP: Play KEY: Nursing Process Step: Data Collection
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance: Growth and Development
5. What instruction would the nurse include when planning anticipatory guidance for parents of
a toddler?
a. Adhere to a rigid schedule because the toddler is ritualistic.
b. Limit-setting should include praise.
c. Shoes should fit snugly at the toe and arch.
d. Dress the toddler in pants with a zipper so that he or she can learn to zip and unzip
clothes.
ANS: B
Limit-setting should include praise as well as disapproval for undesired behavior.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: Page 410 OBJ: 6
TOP: Limit Setting KEY: Nursing Process Step: Planning
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance: Growth and Development
6. What is the best advice the nurse can offer a parent concerned because her 2-year-old is very
active and does not eat much?
a. Insist that the child eat one food on the plate.
b. Help the child wind down with a quiet activity before mealtime.
c. Maintain a consistent eating schedule for the family.
d. Serve the meal with a variety of interesting plates, cups, and utensils.
ANS: B
Quiet time before meals provides an opportunity for the active toddler to wind down.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: Page 413 OBJ: 9
TOP: Quiet Time KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance: Growth and Development
7. How would the nurse advise a parent who states, “I never know how much food to feed my
child”?
a. Serving sizes should not exceed 1 teaspoon of each type of food.
b. Food quantities must be carefully measured to avoid overfeeding.
c. Use 1 tablespoon of each food for each year of age as a guideline.
d. A toddler should eat three balanced meals. Snacks are not necessary.
ANS: C
