A nurse is planning diversional activities for a 2-year-old child who is in skeletal traction. Which of the following toys should the nurse provide for the child?

Diversional activities for hospitalized children should match the child’s developmental stage as well as physical limitations caused by treatment such as skeletal traction. Selecting appropriate toys for a hospitalized child requires a solid understanding of Piaget’s stages of cognitive development and Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development. For a 2-year-old (toddler), the primary developmental task is Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt. Toddlers engage in parallel play and enjoy activities that allow them to mimic adult behaviors and explore their environment within the physical limitations of their treatment. Rationale: A. A dress-up doll is appropriate for a 2-year-old because toddlers engage in imitative and pretend play by copying familiar daily activities such as dressing, feeding, or caring for others. This type of toy supports imagination and emotional comfort while being safe to use in bed during skeletal traction. It also encourages fine motor development without excessive physical movement. B. Playing cards are more suitable for older preschool or school-age children who can understand rules, matching, and turn-taking games. A 2-year-old typically lacks the cognitive and attention skills needed for structured card games. Small cards may also present frustration and limited developmental benefit for a toddler. C. A video game system is generally more appropriate for older children who have better hand-eye coordination and cognitive ability to follow game objectives. Toddlers have limited ability to use controllers effectively and may not benefit from this type of play. It also does not support the simple, imaginative play preferred at this developmental stage. D. A sewing kit is unsafe and developmentally inappropriate for a 2-year-old child. It contains sharp objects such as needles and small parts that present serious choking and injury hazards. Toddlers require toys that are safe, non-sharp, and suitable for supervised simple play rather than complex fine motor tasks like sewing.