The mother of a toddler is concerned because the child has taken the wheels off of a toy truck and placed them in a sandbox as stepping stones to walk. What should the nurse explain about this child's behavior?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

At the end of the toddler period, children enter a second major period of cognitive development termed preoperational thought and begin to use a process termed assimilation. This is when the child learns to change a situation and is what causes toddlers to use toys in the "wrong" way such as taking the wheels off of a truck and using them as stepping stones. The child has changed the toy's use to fit his or her thoughts or used assimilation. This behavior does not mean that the child does not like toy trucks. The number of toys does not need to be limited. This behavior is not abnormal but expected.

The Mother of a Toddler Is Concerned Because the Child