Question

A nurse notices that a toddler is constantly snatching toys from the hands of other preschool children at the health care facility, placing the toddler and other children at risk for injury. Which of the following would be a most effective method for teaching the toddler not to snatch toys?

1) Ask the children to play another game.
2) Tell the toddler that God punishes children who snatch.
3) Give the toddler another toy with which to play.
4) Enlist the aid of the toddler's parents in education.

Answer 1

The most effective method for teaching a toddler not to snatch toys is enlisting the aid of the toddler's parents in education, facilitating consistent behavioral guidance and reinforcement.

Step-by-step explanation:

The most effective method for teaching a toddler not to snatch toys from other children would likely involve a form of behavior modification such as negative punishment. Given the options provided, enlisting the aid of the toddler's parents in education (option 4) would likely be the most effective method. This approach allows for consistent reinforcement of appropriate behavior and can be tailored to the child's developmental stage and individual needs. Redirecting behavior (option 1) may address the immediate situation but doesn't directly teach the toddler not to snatch toys. Introducing religious or fear-based consequences (option 2) may cause confusion or fear without a clear understanding of the behavior's impact. Providing an alternative toy (option 3) could work as a short-term solution, but without guidance it may not teach the importance of sharing and could reinforce taking toys by inadvertently rewarding the behavior.

Children learn through play and interactions with their environment and others, and behavior modification techniques like time-out can be effective when consistently applied. Involving parents in the behavioral education of their toddler ensures these methods are maintained across different settings, increasing the likelihood of positive change.