ATI PEDIATRICS PROCTORED EXAM:
Practice Questions with Answers &
Rationales
Section 1: Growth and Development (Questions 1-30)
1. A nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant. Which primitive reflex
should still be present at this age?
A. Moro reflex
B. Stepping reflex
C. Plantar grasp reflex
D. Tonic neck reflex
Answer: C. Plantar grasp reflex
Rationale: The plantar grasp reflex persists until approximately 9-12
months of age. The Moro reflex disappears by 4-6 months, the stepping
reflex disappears by 4-6 months, and the tonic neck reflex (asymmetric
tonic neck reflex) disappears by 4-6 months .
2. A nurse is assessing a 12-month-old infant. Which finding should
the nurse expect?
A. Birth weight has doubled
B. Anterior fontanel is still open
C. Has 6-8 teeth
, D. Babinski reflex is absent
Answer: C. Has 6-8 teeth
Rationale: By 12 months, infants should triple their birth weight (not
double). The anterior fontanel should close between 12-18 months.
Eruption of 6-8 teeth by 12 months is expected. The Babinski reflex should
still be present at 12 months and typically disappears by 24 months .
3. At what age does the anterior fontanel typically close?
A. 2-4 months
B. 6-8 months
C. 12-18 months
D. 18-24 months
Answer: C. 12-18 months
Rationale: The anterior fontanel closes between 12-18 months of age. The
posterior fontanel closes by 6-8 weeks (2-3 months). Fontanel closure that
occurs too early or too late may indicate a developmental concern .
4. A nurse is providing developmental teaching to parents of an 18-
month-old toddler. Which skills should the nurse state the child can
perform? (Select all that apply)
A. Build a tower of 6 blocks
B. Throw a ball overhead
, C. Manage a spoon without rotation
D. Walk up and down stairs with two feet on each step
E. Draw circles
Answer: B, C
Rationale: At 18 months, toddlers can throw a ball overhead and manage a
spoon without rotation (turning it over). Building a tower of 6 blocks occurs
at 24 months. Walking up and down stairs with two feet on each step
occurs at 24 months. Drawing circles occurs at 30 months .
5. A nurse is assessing a 3-year-old preschooler. Which activity should
the nurse expect the child to perform?
A. Skip on alternate feet
B. Ride a tricycle
C. Walk up and down stairs with alternating feet
D. Hop on one foot
Answer: B. Ride a tricycle
Rationale: At 3 years, preschoolers can ride a tricycle. Skipping on alternate
feet occurs at 5 years. Walking up and down stairs with alternating feet
occurs at 4 years. Hopping on one foot occurs at 4 years .
6. A nurse is assessing a 4-year-old preschooler's language
development. Which finding indicates age-appropriate development?
, A. Uses two- to three-word phrases
B. Uses four- to five-word sentences
C. Can tell a simple story
D. Speaks in complete paragraphs
Answer: C. Can tell a simple story
Rationale: By 4 years, preschoolers can tell a simple story. Two- to three-
word phrases occur at 2-3 years. Four- to five-word sentences occur at 3-4
years. Complete paragraphs are not expected at this age .
7. A nurse is providing anticipatory guidance to parents of a toddler.
Which recommendation should the nurse include regarding
transitional objects?
A. Discourage the use of transitional objects to promote
independence
B. Encourage the use of transitional objects for comfort when away
from home
C. Transitional objects indicate developmental delay
D. Only allow transitional objects at bedtime
Answer: B. Encourage the use of transitional objects for comfort when
away from home
Rationale: Toddlers benefit from transitional objects (like a favorite stuffed
animal) for comfort when away from home. This is a normal developmental
coping mechanism and should not be discouraged .
Practice Questions with Answers &
Rationales
Section 1: Growth and Development (Questions 1-30)
1. A nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant. Which primitive reflex
should still be present at this age?
A. Moro reflex
B. Stepping reflex
C. Plantar grasp reflex
D. Tonic neck reflex
Answer: C. Plantar grasp reflex
Rationale: The plantar grasp reflex persists until approximately 9-12
months of age. The Moro reflex disappears by 4-6 months, the stepping
reflex disappears by 4-6 months, and the tonic neck reflex (asymmetric
tonic neck reflex) disappears by 4-6 months .
2. A nurse is assessing a 12-month-old infant. Which finding should
the nurse expect?
A. Birth weight has doubled
B. Anterior fontanel is still open
C. Has 6-8 teeth
, D. Babinski reflex is absent
Answer: C. Has 6-8 teeth
Rationale: By 12 months, infants should triple their birth weight (not
double). The anterior fontanel should close between 12-18 months.
Eruption of 6-8 teeth by 12 months is expected. The Babinski reflex should
still be present at 12 months and typically disappears by 24 months .
3. At what age does the anterior fontanel typically close?
A. 2-4 months
B. 6-8 months
C. 12-18 months
D. 18-24 months
Answer: C. 12-18 months
Rationale: The anterior fontanel closes between 12-18 months of age. The
posterior fontanel closes by 6-8 weeks (2-3 months). Fontanel closure that
occurs too early or too late may indicate a developmental concern .
4. A nurse is providing developmental teaching to parents of an 18-
month-old toddler. Which skills should the nurse state the child can
perform? (Select all that apply)
A. Build a tower of 6 blocks
B. Throw a ball overhead
, C. Manage a spoon without rotation
D. Walk up and down stairs with two feet on each step
E. Draw circles
Answer: B, C
Rationale: At 18 months, toddlers can throw a ball overhead and manage a
spoon without rotation (turning it over). Building a tower of 6 blocks occurs
at 24 months. Walking up and down stairs with two feet on each step
occurs at 24 months. Drawing circles occurs at 30 months .
5. A nurse is assessing a 3-year-old preschooler. Which activity should
the nurse expect the child to perform?
A. Skip on alternate feet
B. Ride a tricycle
C. Walk up and down stairs with alternating feet
D. Hop on one foot
Answer: B. Ride a tricycle
Rationale: At 3 years, preschoolers can ride a tricycle. Skipping on alternate
feet occurs at 5 years. Walking up and down stairs with alternating feet
occurs at 4 years. Hopping on one foot occurs at 4 years .
6. A nurse is assessing a 4-year-old preschooler's language
development. Which finding indicates age-appropriate development?
, A. Uses two- to three-word phrases
B. Uses four- to five-word sentences
C. Can tell a simple story
D. Speaks in complete paragraphs
Answer: C. Can tell a simple story
Rationale: By 4 years, preschoolers can tell a simple story. Two- to three-
word phrases occur at 2-3 years. Four- to five-word sentences occur at 3-4
years. Complete paragraphs are not expected at this age .
7. A nurse is providing anticipatory guidance to parents of a toddler.
Which recommendation should the nurse include regarding
transitional objects?
A. Discourage the use of transitional objects to promote
independence
B. Encourage the use of transitional objects for comfort when away
from home
C. Transitional objects indicate developmental delay
D. Only allow transitional objects at bedtime
Answer: B. Encourage the use of transitional objects for comfort when
away from home
Rationale: Toddlers benefit from transitional objects (like a favorite stuffed
animal) for comfort when away from home. This is a normal developmental
coping mechanism and should not be discouraged .
