Erikson explains how a child grows emotionally. Piaget explains how a child thinks. On exams, the question is usually: what does this stage mean for how you care for the child?
Erikson's stages
| Age | Stage | Nursing tip |
|---|---|---|
| Birth to 1 year | Trust vs. mistrust | Meet needs quickly. Keep parents close and caregivers consistent. |
| 1 to 3 years | Autonomy vs. shame and doubt | Offer simple choices: "Red cup or blue cup?" Expect "no." |
| 3 to 6 years | Initiative vs. guilt | Let them help and explore. Reassure them that illness is not a punishment. |
| 6 to 12 years | Industry vs. inferiority | Give tasks they can finish. Help them keep up with schoolwork. |
| 12 to 18 years | Identity vs. role confusion | Protect privacy. Let them connect with friends. Talk to them directly. |
Piaget's stages
| Age | Stage | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Birth to 2 years | Sensorimotor | Learns through senses and movement. Object permanence develops (around 8 to 9 months), so separation anxiety appears. |
| 2 to 7 years | Preoperational | Magical thinking and egocentric. May think they caused their illness. Use play and simple words. |
| 7 to 11 years | Concrete operational | Logical about real, concrete things. Use pictures, models, and hands-on teaching. |
| 11 years and up | Formal operational | Can think abstractly and about the future. Explain the "why" and include them in decisions. |
Fears by age
- Toddlers: separation from parents is the biggest fear.
- Preschoolers: fear of body injury and mutilation. Use bandages, even for small pokes.
- School age: fear of losing control and missing friends or school.
- Teens: fear of changes in how they look and of losing independence.
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Quick answers
What is Erikson's stage for toddlers?
Autonomy vs. shame and doubt, ages 1 to 3. Offer simple choices to support independence.
What is the biggest fear of a hospitalized toddler?
Separation from their parents.
Evidence & Clinical Sources
- Hockenberry, Wong's Essentials of Pediatric Nursing, Elsevier
Reviewed against current guidelines and drug labels. Always follow your program, a current drug reference, and facility policy. Our sources policy
For learning only. Lab ranges and policies vary. Always follow your nursing program, a current drug reference, and your facility's policies.