Question

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas have brought 2-year-old Todd to the clinic for his annual physical examination. The parents report that bedtime is a major production almost every night. They state that he cries, comes out of his room, and displays various other behaviors that delay sleep. They wonder if he has a sleep disorder. They relate that, other than an occasional temper tantrum, they do not have any other concerns.

• • What information do you need from the parents to assess the problem?

• • After you have the above information, what advice should you give the Todd's parents?

Answer 1

1. To assess the problem, we should ask the parents to whether the toddler is showing any other unusual behaviour like showing low frustration tolerance , anger, physical aggression or resistance such as rigid body, biting,kicking, throwing objects,hitting, crying, rolling on floor , screaming loudly , banging limbs etc.

- Temper tandrum mainly occurs in maladjusted children whose activity is directed towards the environment not to any person or anything.

2. Nurse should advice the parents that it is normal in toddler and it may continues to preschool period.

- Parents should be made aware about beginning of temper tandrum and when child loses his control.

- Parents should explain the child , that the angry feeling is a normal but controlling anger is an aspect of growing up.

- Nurse should advice the parents , inorder to relive from tension and frustrations make them to do exercises and physical activity. Mainly parents should be firm and consistent in behavior.

- Parents should be adviced to be calm and to show loving approach to their child  during frustration or during any unusual behaviour.