The nurse is admitting a 12-month-old to the medical unit. During the admission process, the parents tell the nurse that their child is very advanced because he says "ball" when he picks up a football. How should the nurse respond?

Choice A reason: Recognizing and naming objects is a developmental milestone for a 12-month-old. Saying single words like "ball" appropriately demonstrates receptive and expressive language skills. This response validates the parents’ observation and encourages continued language development. Choice B reason: While combining words into short sentences is a milestone typically reached around 18–24 months, expecting this at 12 months is premature. This response may discourage parents and does not acknowledge the child’s current achievement. Choice C reason: This statement is dismissive and undermines parental engagement. It does not provide education or support and may damage rapport between the nurse and family. Choice D reason: This response is unnecessarily critical and fails to recognize the child’s developmental progress. It may discourage parental involvement and does not reflect therapeutic communication.