In understanding separation anxiety, which behavior might a 2-year-old exhibit during a hospital visit from parents?

The behavior described where a 2-year-old may ignore the parents during a hospital visit is consistent with the developmental understanding of separation anxiety in toddlers. At this age, children are beginning to develop their autonomy and might cope with the stress of separation from their parents in different ways, sometimes exhibiting behaviors that may seem contrary to their need for comfort.

Ignoring parents can be a defense mechanism. It may indicate that the child is feeling overwhelmed by seeing them after a period of separation. Instead of directly expressing excitement or crying, a toddler may detach emotionally as a way to handle their anxiety or fear of the unfamiliar hospital environment. This doesn't mean the child doesn't love or miss the parents; rather, it highlights their struggle to reconcile the comfort of familiar faces with the anxiety of their current circumstances.

In contrast, behaviors such as continuous crying upon seeing parents typically reflect overt distress, while expressing excitement and clinging is a more overt manifestation of comfort-seeking behavior. This might occur in younger children but varies with the child's personality and developmental stage. Asking numerous questions about the hospital would be more typical of an older child, who may be better able to articulate their feelings and curiosity about their surroundings. Therefore, the behavior of ignoring parents illustrates a complex emotional response characteristic of toddlers dealing