A nurse is assessing a 2-year-old child at a well-child visit. The child's parent expresses concern about the child's increasing temper tantrums and difficult behaviors. Which of the following statements should the nurse respond with?

Rationale: A. Although temperament influences behavior, this response shifts focus away from developmental norms and may make the parent feel blamed. It does not offer clear guidance on why tantrums occur at this age or how typical they are for a 2-year-old. B. While discipline strategies matter, introducing this topic first may sound judgmental and overlooks the parent’s immediate concern. Toddlers’ behavior should first be understood in the context of normal growth before focusing on corrective measures. C. This response explains tantrums as part of normal toddler development as they assert independence, experience strong emotions, and have limited language skills. Providing reassurance helps normalize the behavior and opens the door for teaching supportive management strategies. D. Nutrition can affect behavior but is not the most relevant initial focus for temper tantrums in a 2-year-old. Before exploring other causes, it is important to clarify that tantrums are expected at this developmental stage.