Sam is at home with his two children, 3-year-old Daria and 6-week-old Keith. Sam is reading a story to Daria when baby Keith wakes up and screams for his bottle. Daria gets very upset when Sam leaves her to tend to the baby. Sam tries to explain to his daughter that her baby brother can’t wait, but Daria continues to insist. Sam is concerned that Daria is not accepting her new baby brother. Based on your understanding of preschoolers cognitive development, what would you tell Sam?

Select one:
a. Daria is probably exhibiting a failure to show empathy and needs more training in this area.
b. Daria is probably exhibiting separation distress, which is normal for children her age.
c. Daria is probably exhibiting normal cognitive egocentrism because she cannot fully understand the needs of another person yet.
d. Daria is probably exhibiting a stress response that suggests the family may need some counseling.

This is the knowledge that would most help Sam address the needs of his two children. Based on the research that exists of preschoolers cognitive developement, Daria is probably exhibiting normal cognitive egocentrism. Children at this age are not fully able to understand the needs of another person yet.