Nurse Vincent is teaching the parents of a school-age child. Which teaching topic should take priority?
A. Explaining normalcy of fears about body integrity
B. Keeping a night light on to allay fears
C. Prevent accidents
D. Encouraging the child to dress without help
Correct Answer: C. Prevent accidents
Accidents are the major cause of death and disability during the school-age years. Therefore, accident prevention should take priority when teaching parents of school-age children. In 2016, there were 20,360 deaths among children and adolescents in the United States. More than 60% resulted from injury-related causes, which included 6 of the 10 leading causes of death.
Option A: Preschool (not school-age) children have fears concerning body integrity. Help prepare children for situations they may find frightening. Read a story about going to the dentist, or ask a firefighter to visit the school and allow children to handle the equipment while you stand nearby for reassurance.
Option B: Preschool (not school-age) children are afraid of the dark. At about 3 ½, children often develop a variety of insecurities and physical ways of showing them. Fear of the dark and nightmares are common and may last quite a while. There is so much going on in the world of a 3-year-old-so much mastery, so many things they’ve already become familiar with. At the same time, however, children this age may be disturbed by characteristics they find unfamiliar.
Option D: Preschool (not school-age) children should be encouraged to dress without help (with the exception of tying shoes). Preschoolers revel in their newfound independence. Being able to make such choices is a natural part of growing up, and gives threes and fours an exciting sense of themselves as powerful people.