An 18-month-old patient is brought into the clinic for evaluation because the parent is concerned. The 18-month-old child hits siblings and says only "No" when communicating verbally. Which recommendation by the nurse will be best for this situation?

A) Assure the mother that the child is developmentally within specified norms.
B) Encourage the mother to seek psychological counseling for the child.
C) Consult the social worker because the child is hitting other children.
D) Remove all toys from the child's room until this behavior ceases.

Assure the mother that the child is displaying normal behavior. At 18 months, the child is in the sensorimotor period of development. Piaget describes hitting, looking, grasping, and kicking as normal schemas to deal with the environment. The social worker does not need to be consulted in this case nor is psychological counseling warranted, because the child is exhibiting normal behaviors. Play is an important part of all children's development. Removing toys and the opportunity to play with them may actually hinder the child's development.