ATI Pediatrics Proctored Exam Test Bank
2026 – ATI Pediatrics – Complete Practice
Questions with Answers
SECTION I: GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT
1. A nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant during a well-child visit. Which of the following
findings should the nurse report to the provider as a potential developmental delay?
A. The infant rolls from back to abdomen
B. The infant has a social smile
C. The infant bears weight on the legs when held upright
D. The infant has poor head control when pulled to a sitting position
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: By 6 months, an infant should have strong head control and be able to sit with
support. Poor head control at this age is a red flag for neuromuscular or developmental delay.
Rolling over, social smile, and bearing weight on legs are all expected findings at 6 months.
2. A nurse is performing a developmental screening on a 4-year-old child. Which of the
following milestones is appropriate for the nurse to expect the child to achieve?
A. Ties shoelaces
B. Draws a circle
C. Uses a fork to eat independently
D. Rides a tricycle
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: By age 4, a child should be able to copy a circle and draw a person with 2-4 body
parts. Tying shoelaces is a fine motor skill expected around age 5-6. Using a fork independently
is typically seen by age 3-4, but drawing a circle is the more specific and distinguishing
milestone for this age. Riding a tricycle is typically achieved by age 3.
,3. A nurse is assessing a 12-month-old toddler. Which finding indicates a need for further
evaluation?
A. The toddler can say 2-3 words
B. The toddler can walk independently
C. The toddler cannot sit without support
D. The toddler can feed themselves with fingers
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Sitting without support should be achieved by 8 months. A 12-month-old who
cannot sit independently requires further evaluation for developmental delay.
4. According to Piaget, a 4-year-old child is in which stage of cognitive development?
A. Sensorimotor
B. Preoperational
C. Concrete operational
D. Formal operational
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The preoperational stage (2-7 years) is characterized by egocentrism, magical
thinking, and symbolic play. Sensorimotor is birth-2 years. Concrete operational is 7-11 years.
5. A nurse is observing a mother who is playing peek-a-boo with her 8-month-old child. The
mother asks if this game has any developmental significance. The nurse should inform the
mother that peek-a-boo helps develop which of the following concepts?
A. Hand-eye coordination
B. Sense of trust
C. Object permanence
D. Egocentrism
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Object permanence is the cognitive skill of knowing an object still exists even
when out of sight. Peek-a-boo helps validate this concept as the infant discovers the hidden
object.
,6. A nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant at a well-child visit. Which of the following findings
indicates the need for further assessment?
A. Grabs feet and pulls them to her mouth
B. Posterior fontanel is closed
C. Legs remain crossed and extended when supine
D. Birth weight has doubled
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: At 6 months, legs should flex at the knees when supine. Crossed and extended
legs is an unexpected finding associated with cerebral palsy and requires further assessment.
7. A nurse at a pediatric clinic is assessing a 5-month-old infant during a well-child visit. Which
of the following findings should the nurse report to the provider?
A. Head lags when pulled from a lying to a sitting position
B. Absence of startle and crawl reflexes
C. Inability to pick up a rattle after dropping it
D. Rolls from back to side
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: By 5 months of age, the infant should have no head lag when pulled to a sitting
position. This finding should be reported for further evaluation.
8. A nurse is teaching a parent of a 12-month-old child about development during the toddler
years. Which of the following statements should the nurse include?
A. "Your child should be referring to himself using the appropriate pronoun by 18 months of
age."
B. "A toddler's interest in looking at pictures occurs at 20 months of age."
C. "A toddler should have daytime control of his bowel and bladder by 24 months of age."
D. "Your child should be able to scribble spontaneously using a crayon at the age of 15 months."
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: At 15 months, a toddler should be able to scribble spontaneously; at 18 months,
the toddler should be able to make strokes imitatively. Toilet training readiness varies, and
bowel/bladder control is typically not expected until later in the toddler period.
, 9. A nurse is performing a physical assessment on a 6-month-old infant. Which of the following
reflexes should the nurse expect to find?
A. Stepping
B. Babinski
C. Extrusion
D. Moro
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Babinski reflex (toes fan and big toe dorsiflexes when stroking the bottom of
the foot) should be present until age 1 year. Persistence of neonatal reflexes beyond expected
timeframes may indicate neurological deficits.
10. Which finding indicates a 2-month-old infant is developing appropriately?
A. Rolling over
B. Social smile
C. Sitting with support
D. Transferring objects
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Social smile is a 2-month milestone. Rolling over is 5-6 months. Sitting with
support is 6-8 months. Transferring objects is 7 months.
11. A nurse is assessing a 5-year-old child. Which developmental task is most appropriate for
this age?
A. Parallel play
B. Cooperative play
C. Solitary play
D. Onlooker play
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Preschoolers (3-5 years) engage in cooperative play. Parallel play is typical of
toddlers (2-3 years). Solitary and onlooker play are seen in infancy and toddlerhood.
2026 – ATI Pediatrics – Complete Practice
Questions with Answers
SECTION I: GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT
1. A nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant during a well-child visit. Which of the following
findings should the nurse report to the provider as a potential developmental delay?
A. The infant rolls from back to abdomen
B. The infant has a social smile
C. The infant bears weight on the legs when held upright
D. The infant has poor head control when pulled to a sitting position
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: By 6 months, an infant should have strong head control and be able to sit with
support. Poor head control at this age is a red flag for neuromuscular or developmental delay.
Rolling over, social smile, and bearing weight on legs are all expected findings at 6 months.
2. A nurse is performing a developmental screening on a 4-year-old child. Which of the
following milestones is appropriate for the nurse to expect the child to achieve?
A. Ties shoelaces
B. Draws a circle
C. Uses a fork to eat independently
D. Rides a tricycle
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: By age 4, a child should be able to copy a circle and draw a person with 2-4 body
parts. Tying shoelaces is a fine motor skill expected around age 5-6. Using a fork independently
is typically seen by age 3-4, but drawing a circle is the more specific and distinguishing
milestone for this age. Riding a tricycle is typically achieved by age 3.
,3. A nurse is assessing a 12-month-old toddler. Which finding indicates a need for further
evaluation?
A. The toddler can say 2-3 words
B. The toddler can walk independently
C. The toddler cannot sit without support
D. The toddler can feed themselves with fingers
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Sitting without support should be achieved by 8 months. A 12-month-old who
cannot sit independently requires further evaluation for developmental delay.
4. According to Piaget, a 4-year-old child is in which stage of cognitive development?
A. Sensorimotor
B. Preoperational
C. Concrete operational
D. Formal operational
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The preoperational stage (2-7 years) is characterized by egocentrism, magical
thinking, and symbolic play. Sensorimotor is birth-2 years. Concrete operational is 7-11 years.
5. A nurse is observing a mother who is playing peek-a-boo with her 8-month-old child. The
mother asks if this game has any developmental significance. The nurse should inform the
mother that peek-a-boo helps develop which of the following concepts?
A. Hand-eye coordination
B. Sense of trust
C. Object permanence
D. Egocentrism
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Object permanence is the cognitive skill of knowing an object still exists even
when out of sight. Peek-a-boo helps validate this concept as the infant discovers the hidden
object.
,6. A nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant at a well-child visit. Which of the following findings
indicates the need for further assessment?
A. Grabs feet and pulls them to her mouth
B. Posterior fontanel is closed
C. Legs remain crossed and extended when supine
D. Birth weight has doubled
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: At 6 months, legs should flex at the knees when supine. Crossed and extended
legs is an unexpected finding associated with cerebral palsy and requires further assessment.
7. A nurse at a pediatric clinic is assessing a 5-month-old infant during a well-child visit. Which
of the following findings should the nurse report to the provider?
A. Head lags when pulled from a lying to a sitting position
B. Absence of startle and crawl reflexes
C. Inability to pick up a rattle after dropping it
D. Rolls from back to side
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: By 5 months of age, the infant should have no head lag when pulled to a sitting
position. This finding should be reported for further evaluation.
8. A nurse is teaching a parent of a 12-month-old child about development during the toddler
years. Which of the following statements should the nurse include?
A. "Your child should be referring to himself using the appropriate pronoun by 18 months of
age."
B. "A toddler's interest in looking at pictures occurs at 20 months of age."
C. "A toddler should have daytime control of his bowel and bladder by 24 months of age."
D. "Your child should be able to scribble spontaneously using a crayon at the age of 15 months."
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: At 15 months, a toddler should be able to scribble spontaneously; at 18 months,
the toddler should be able to make strokes imitatively. Toilet training readiness varies, and
bowel/bladder control is typically not expected until later in the toddler period.
, 9. A nurse is performing a physical assessment on a 6-month-old infant. Which of the following
reflexes should the nurse expect to find?
A. Stepping
B. Babinski
C. Extrusion
D. Moro
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Babinski reflex (toes fan and big toe dorsiflexes when stroking the bottom of
the foot) should be present until age 1 year. Persistence of neonatal reflexes beyond expected
timeframes may indicate neurological deficits.
10. Which finding indicates a 2-month-old infant is developing appropriately?
A. Rolling over
B. Social smile
C. Sitting with support
D. Transferring objects
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Social smile is a 2-month milestone. Rolling over is 5-6 months. Sitting with
support is 6-8 months. Transferring objects is 7 months.
11. A nurse is assessing a 5-year-old child. Which developmental task is most appropriate for
this age?
A. Parallel play
B. Cooperative play
C. Solitary play
D. Onlooker play
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Preschoolers (3-5 years) engage in cooperative play. Parallel play is typical of
toddlers (2-3 years). Solitary and onlooker play are seen in infancy and toddlerhood.
