Health Promotion and Prevention for Toddlers

The toddler period of development spans ages one to three. During this time, toddlers become more independent, active, and curious. As the nurse caring for toddlers, you’ll collaborate with the registered nurse to assist caregivers to consider childcare options, encourage safe play, prevent injury, and provide adequate nutrition.

Child care is an arrangement where the caregivers place their toddler in the supervision of others while they tend to personal and professional obligations. When choosing to place their toddler in child care, available options include leaving the child with a known and trusted family member or friend, enrolling them in a private licensed day care center, or using employer-supported child care.

Regardless of the type of child care, caregivers may experience a sense of guilt or worry when placing their toddler in the care of others. As the nurse, you’ll assist families in choosing a care facility that meets their personal and cultural preferences, as well as their financial needs, and provide emotional support for any associated psychological symptoms they experience.

Now, through the act of play, toddlers explore and learn about their environment. Toddlers tend to engage in egocentric thinking, meaning they relate everything back to themselves, which can manifest as difficulty sharing toys, or having a temper tantrum when they don’t get their way. By 18 months, they typically start playing with dolls or stuffed animals and engaging in parallel play, which is when children play next to each other but don’t interact. As they continue to grow, they start to prefer cooperative play, where they play and interact with others.

As the nurse, encourage caregivers to provide a safe place for their toddlers to engage in unstructured, self-directed play, and review how to choose suitable toys and activities for their toddler by reading the safety labels and being aware of recalls.