NCLEX-RNHealth Promotion and MaintenanceHard
A nurse is providing anticipatory guidance to the parents of a 15-month-old toddler during a well-child visit. The parents express concern about their child's increasing independence and occasional temper tantrums. Which guidance should the nurse provide regarding discipline at this age?
- AUse consistent, clear, and simple commands for desired behaviors.
- BOffer a wide range of choices to empower the child's decision-making.
- CImplement time-outs of 15 minutes for each tantrum.
- DIgnore all tantrums completely to avoid reinforcing the behavior.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. Use consistent, clear, and simple commands for desired behaviors.
At 15 months, toddlers are developing independence and testing boundaries. Consistent, clear, and simple commands help set limits and guide behavior without overwhelming the child, who has limited language comprehension. This approach fosters a predictable environment and teaches appropriate behavior.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. Offering too many choices can overwhelm a 15-month-old and lead to frustration, which can exacerbate tantrums rather than empower them; limited, age-appropriate choices are better.
- C. 15 minutes is too long for a time-out for a 15-month-old; 1 minute per year of age is a general guideline, and consistency is more important than duration.
- D. While ignoring some attention-seeking behaviors can be effective, completely ignoring all tantrums may neglect underlying needs or escalate frustration, and it doesn't teach alternative behaviors.
Toddler Discipline Strategies
Age-appropriate methods for guiding a toddler's behavior, focusing on consistency, clear communication, and setting boundaries while supporting their developmental stage.
- Focus on positive reinforcement and redirection.
- Use brief, consistent time-outs (1 minute per year of age).
- Provide limited, age-appropriate choices to foster autonomy.
Memory trick: Clear Rules, Consistent Actions, Choices, and Calmly Redirect.