NCLEX Health Promotion and Maintenance Related

Review NCLEX Health Promotion and Maintenance related questions and content

The parents of a 2-year-old child ask the nurse how they can teach their child to quit taking toys away from other children. Which of the following statements by the nurse offers the parents the best explanation of their child's behavior?

  • A. Your child is egocentric. Egocentricity is normal for 2-year-old children. He believes other children want him to have their toys.
  • B. Your child is showing negativity. He doesn't want other children to have the toys he wants.
  • C. Your child is demonstrating magical thinking. He believes he can make the other children want him to play with their toys.
  • D. Your child is engaging in domestic imitation. He is doing what he has seen other children do.
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Two-year-old children are very egocentric. They believe everything and everyone is concerned about them. They believe other children want them to have their toys. This is different than believing they can make other children want them to have all the toys, as in magical thinking, which normally occurs in preschool-age children. Toddlers are very negative, but this is expressed by refusal of requests made to them. Domestic imitation does occur in preschool-age children, but it refers to the imitation of household chores and roles performed by adults, not the imitation of other children.