During a 2-year-old well-child visit, a toddler's parent tells the nurse that this son, who is the youngest of five, rarely talks spontaneously. Which intervention should the nurse implement?

A. Suggest that the parent read aloud to the child at bedtime. Reading aloud to the child is a beneficial practice that can enhance language development, vocabulary, and communication skills. It provides the child with exposure to language in a meaningful context and can stimulate spontaneous speech.

B. Discuss with the parent the need for a hearing screening. A hearing screening is a prudent intervention as hearing issues can significantly impact speech development. Ensuring the child has normal hearing is a critical first step in addressing delayed speech. Once hearing issues are ruled out, reading aloud and other strategies can be more effectively implemented.

C. Recommend that the parent enroll the child in preschool. Enrolling the child in preschool can provide a language-rich environment and opportunities for social interaction, which can stimulate speech and language development. However, this may not be the first step without ruling out other issues like hearing problems.

D. Encourage the parent to tell the child to ask for what he wants. Encouraging the child to use words to express needs is helpful for language development. It promotes verbal communication and helps the child learn to articulate desires and needs. This strategy, combined with other interventions, can be effective.

A. Triceps skin fold and mid-arm circumference. These measurements can provide some indication of nutritional status, but they may not be as reliable in older adults due to changes in body composition and skin elasticity.

B. Twenty-four-hour food recall, preferences, and allergies. While dietary information is important, it may not accurately reflect the client's current nutritional status.

C. Weight loss history and body surface area (BSA). While weight loss history is relevant, BSA is not typically used to assess nutritional status.

D. Body mass index (BMI) and serum albumin level. BMI is a commonly used indicator of nutritional status, and serum albumin level reflects protein status, which is important for assessing malnutrition.