A nurse is providing anticipatory guidance to the parents of a healthy 18-month-old during a well-child visit. The parents express concern because their toddler has recently begun throwing frequent tantrums, refuses to share toys, and insists on doing everything "by myself." They ask the nurse if something is wrong with their child's behavior. What is the most appropriate response by the nurse?
- Recommend eliminating nap time, as overtiredness is the most common cause of tantrums at this age
- Advise the parents to consult a child psychologist because oppositional behavior before age 2 may indicate a conduct disorder
- Instruct the parents to use time-out for 18 minutes, matching the child's age in months, after each tantrum
- Reassure the parents that this behavior reflects normal autonomy development and encourage consistent, calm limit-setting