Comparing Toddler Development through Gordon’s Functional Health Patterns

Gordon’s functional health patterns provide a framework to assess a person’s overall health and well-being. Here’s a comparison of how these patterns might look for a 1-year-old toddler (Toddler A) and a 2-year-old toddler (Toddler B):

1. Health Perception-Health Management:

• Toddler A: Limited awareness of health, relies on caregiver for illness identification and basic hygiene practices. May experience separation anxiety when visiting a doctor.
• Toddler B: Developing basic understanding of “feeling good” and “feeling sick.” May participate in simple hygiene routines like handwashing with assistance. Less likely to experience separation anxiety during doctor visits.

2. Nutritional-Metabolic:

• Toddler A: Transitioning from breast milk/formula to solid foods. Requires frequent feedings and might be picky eaters.
• Toddler B: More established eating patterns with a wider variety of foods consumed. May gain independence in self-feeding with utensils but might still require assistance with portion control and messy foods.

3. Elimination Pattern:

• Toddler A: Transitioning from diapers to potty training (might not be fully potty-trained yet). Requires frequent diaper changes and might experience occasional accidents.
• Toddler B: Developing bladder and bowel control. Might be partially potty-trained during the day but might still need diapers at night. May experience occasional accidents.

4. Activity-Exercise:

• Toddler A: Highly active, exploring surroundings through crawling, pulling up, and starting to walk. Requires close supervision to ensure safety.
• Toddler B: More refined motor skills with increased ability to walk, run, and climb. Plays with simple toys and enjoys exploring independently but still requires adult supervision.

5. Cognitive-Perceptual:

• Toddler A: Learning through exploration, sensory play, and simple cause-and-effect relationships. Uses basic language skills (single words and short phrases) to communicate needs.
• Toddler B: Rapid language development. Forms sentences with multiple words, asks questions, and understands basic instructions. Learns through play, exploration, and imitation.

6. Sleep-Rest:

• Toddler A: Takes two naps and sleeps for a longer duration at night. Sleep patterns might be irregular at times.
• Toddler B: Transitions to one daytime nap and might sleep through the night more consistently. May experience occasional sleep disturbances due to nightmares or development milestones.

7. Self-Perception-Self-Concept:

• Toddler A: Developing a sense of self. Might experience frustration with limitations and express emotions readily.
• Toddler B: Increased sense of independence and autonomy. May test boundaries and engage in tantrums when frustrated. Developing a sense of self-esteem and likes/dislikes.

8. Role-Relationship:

• Toddler A: Strong attachment to primary caregivers. Might exhibit stranger anxiety in new situations.
• Toddler B: Engaging with peers more actively. Starts showing empathy and concern for others. Continues to rely on caregivers for emotional support and basic needs.

9. Sexuality-Reproductive:

• Toddler A: No specific focus on this pattern at this age.
• Toddler B: No specific focus on this pattern at this age.

10. Coping-Stress Tolerance:

• Toddler A: Relies on caregivers for emotional regulation and coping with stress. Might express emotions through crying, tantrums, or withdrawal.
• Toddler B: Developing basic coping mechanisms like self-soothing or seeking comfort from caregivers. May still experience frustration and express emotions intensely but for shorter durations.

11. Values-Belief System:

• Toddler A: Starting to understand basic rules and routines. Learns through imitating caregivers’ behavior and values.
• Toddler B: Developing a sense of right and wrong. Might test limits and challenge rules. Continues to learn values and beliefs from caregivers and their environment.

Conclusion

Gordon’s functional health patterns offer a valuable tool to assess a toddler’s development across various domains. By comparing patterns between different age groups, we can observe the rapid growth and changes toddlers experience in their first two years of life.