Scenario:
Andrew, aged two and a half years, is attending day care three days a week for five hours each day
while his mother Maria works part-time. Maria states that Andrew is speaking in four to five word
sentences and communicating his needs well. Andrew ’s father, Tom, is a full-time shift worker and he
cares for Andrew regularly on his two days off each week. Maria explains that Andrew enjoys music,
dancing and singing 'silly' songs with his Dad, herself and their large extended family.
Andrew is Maria’s first child, and she is concerned that her son is not yet toilet trained during the day
or night, especially since she has noticed that other children in day care seem to have mastered this
skill during the day. Maria also has questions in relation to healthy eating and active play for Andrew,
and the benefits of child care and play groups.
The Child and Family Health Nurse has reassured Maria that Andrew is meeting all his developmental
milestones and will soon gain daytime continence by the time he is three years old, or soon after. The
nurse has also educated Maria on healthy eating patterns and active play. The nurse has referred
Maria to a mother’s group in her local area to discuss strategies for toilet training in a relaxed, informal
environment with other parents.
Essay topic:
Drawing on relevant nursing and psychosocial science literature, and using at least two examples from
the scenario, write an essay on the following topic:
What are some important aspects of psychosocial development that occur in children between the
ages of 2 and 5 years, and what influences this development?
Sample Solution