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ATI NURSING CARE OF CHILDREN PROCTORED EXAM LATEST
VERSION QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026 EDITION
ATI NURSING CARE OF CHILDREN PROCTORED EXAM
250 Questions with Rationales
SECTION 1: GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT (Questions 1-45)
Question 1
A nurse is assessing a 9-month-old infant during a well-child visit. Which of the
following reflexes should the nurse expect to still be present at this age?
A) Moro reflex
B) Plantar grasp reflex
C) Stepping reflex
D) Tonic neck reflex
Rationale: The correct answer is B. The plantar grasp reflex persists until approximately
9-12 months of age, so it should be present at 9 months . The Moro reflex disappears by
4-6 months. The stepping reflex disappears by 4-6 months. The tonic neck reflex
(asymmetric tonic neck reflex) disappears by 4-6 months.
Question 2
At what age does the anterior fontanel typically close?
A) 2-3 months
B) 6-8 weeks
C) 12-18 months
D) 18-24 months
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Rationale: The correct answer is C. 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.
Question 3
A nurse is assessing a 12-month-old infant during a well-child visit. Which finding
should the nurse report to the provider?
A) Closed anterior fontanel
B) Eruption of 6 teeth
C) Birth weight doubled
D) Presence of Babinski reflex
Rationale: The correct answer is C. By 12 months, infants should triple their birth
weight, not double . The anterior fontanel closing by 12-18 months is expected. 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.
Question 4
A nurse is assessing a 2.5-year-old toddler at a well-child visit. Which of the
following findings indicates a need for further evaluation?
A) Height increased by 7.5 cm (3 inches) in the past year
B) Head circumference exceeds chest circumference
C) Unable to stand on one foot
D) Vocabulary of 20 words
Rationale: The correct answer is D. A 2.5-year-old toddler should have a vocabulary of
approximately 50-100 words and be combining 2-3 word phrases. A vocabulary of only
20 words is below expected developmental norms . Height increase of 3 inches per year
is expected for toddlers. Head circumference should exceed chest circumference at
this age. Standing on one foot develops around 30 months.
Question 5
Which of the following developmental milestones should a nurse expect in a 4-
year-old child?
A) Skips on alternate feet
B) Tells a simple story
C) Uses 4-5 word sentences
D) Rides a tricycle
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Rationale: The correct answer is B. By 4 years, preschoolers can tell a simple story .
Skipping on alternate feet occurs at 5 years. Four- to five-word sentences occur at 3-4
years. Riding a tricycle occurs at 3 years.
Question 6
A nurse is providing education about age-appropriate activities to the parent of a 2-
year-old. Which statement by the parent indicates understanding?
A) "I will send my child's favorite stuffed animal when she will be napping away from
home"
B) "My child should be able to stand on one foot for a second"
C) "The soccer team my child will be playing on starts next week"
D) "I should expect my child to be able to draw circles"
Rationale: The correct answer is A. Toddlers benefit from transitional objects (like a
favorite stuffed animal) for comfort when away from home . Standing on one foot for a
second occurs at 30 months. Organized sports like soccer are appropriate for school-
age children, not toddlers. Drawing circles occurs at 30 months.
Question 7
A nurse is assessing a 5-year-old preschooler. Which fine motor skill should the
nurse expect?
A) Copies a square
B) Draws a circle
C) Uses a fork and spoon
D) Ties shoelaces
Rationale: The correct answer is C. By 5 years, a child should be able to use a fork and
spoon . Copies a square occurs at 4-5 years. Draws a circle occurs at 3 years. Ties
shoelaces occurs at 6 years.
Question 8
Which of the following gross motor skills should a nurse expect in a 3-year-old
preschooler?
A) Rides a tricycle
B) Skips on alternate feet
C) Walks up and down stairs with alternating feet
D) Hops on one foot
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Rationale: The correct answer is A. 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.
Question 9
A nurse is assessing an 18-month-old toddler. Which fine motor skill should the
nurse expect?
A) Builds a tower of 6 blocks
B) Walks up and down stairs with two feet on each step
C) Throws a ball overhead
D) Draws circles
Rationale: The correct answer is C. At 18 months, toddlers can throw a ball overhead .
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.
Question 10
A nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant. Which reflex should the infant exhibit?
A) Moro
B) Plantar grasp
C) Stepping
D) Tonic neck
Rationale: The correct answer is B. The plantar grasp reflex persists until approximately
9-12 months of age, so it should be present at 6 months . The Moro reflex disappears by
4-6 months. The stepping reflex disappears by 4-6 months. The tonic neck reflex
disappears by 4-6 months.
Question 11
A nurse is teaching the guardian of a 6-month-old infant about car seat use. Which
of the following statements by the guardian indicates an understanding of the
teaching?
A) "I should secure the car seat using lower anchors and tethers instead of the seat
belt."
B) "I should position the car seat harness 1 inch above my baby's shoulders."
C) "I will make sure that the car seat is placed at a 90-degree angle."
D) "I will pad my baby's car seat with a blanket for traveling long distances."
Rationale: The correct answer is A. The correct answer is A. Securing the car seat using
lower anchors and tethers (LATCH system) is the recommended method . The harness
ATI NURSING CARE OF CHILDREN PROCTORED EXAM LATEST
VERSION QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026 EDITION
ATI NURSING CARE OF CHILDREN PROCTORED EXAM
250 Questions with Rationales
SECTION 1: GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT (Questions 1-45)
Question 1
A nurse is assessing a 9-month-old infant during a well-child visit. Which of the
following reflexes should the nurse expect to still be present at this age?
A) Moro reflex
B) Plantar grasp reflex
C) Stepping reflex
D) Tonic neck reflex
Rationale: The correct answer is B. The plantar grasp reflex persists until approximately
9-12 months of age, so it should be present at 9 months . The Moro reflex disappears by
4-6 months. The stepping reflex disappears by 4-6 months. The tonic neck reflex
(asymmetric tonic neck reflex) disappears by 4-6 months.
Question 2
At what age does the anterior fontanel typically close?
A) 2-3 months
B) 6-8 weeks
C) 12-18 months
D) 18-24 months
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Rationale: The correct answer is C. 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.
Question 3
A nurse is assessing a 12-month-old infant during a well-child visit. Which finding
should the nurse report to the provider?
A) Closed anterior fontanel
B) Eruption of 6 teeth
C) Birth weight doubled
D) Presence of Babinski reflex
Rationale: The correct answer is C. By 12 months, infants should triple their birth
weight, not double . The anterior fontanel closing by 12-18 months is expected. 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.
Question 4
A nurse is assessing a 2.5-year-old toddler at a well-child visit. Which of the
following findings indicates a need for further evaluation?
A) Height increased by 7.5 cm (3 inches) in the past year
B) Head circumference exceeds chest circumference
C) Unable to stand on one foot
D) Vocabulary of 20 words
Rationale: The correct answer is D. A 2.5-year-old toddler should have a vocabulary of
approximately 50-100 words and be combining 2-3 word phrases. A vocabulary of only
20 words is below expected developmental norms . Height increase of 3 inches per year
is expected for toddlers. Head circumference should exceed chest circumference at
this age. Standing on one foot develops around 30 months.
Question 5
Which of the following developmental milestones should a nurse expect in a 4-
year-old child?
A) Skips on alternate feet
B) Tells a simple story
C) Uses 4-5 word sentences
D) Rides a tricycle
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Rationale: The correct answer is B. By 4 years, preschoolers can tell a simple story .
Skipping on alternate feet occurs at 5 years. Four- to five-word sentences occur at 3-4
years. Riding a tricycle occurs at 3 years.
Question 6
A nurse is providing education about age-appropriate activities to the parent of a 2-
year-old. Which statement by the parent indicates understanding?
A) "I will send my child's favorite stuffed animal when she will be napping away from
home"
B) "My child should be able to stand on one foot for a second"
C) "The soccer team my child will be playing on starts next week"
D) "I should expect my child to be able to draw circles"
Rationale: The correct answer is A. Toddlers benefit from transitional objects (like a
favorite stuffed animal) for comfort when away from home . Standing on one foot for a
second occurs at 30 months. Organized sports like soccer are appropriate for school-
age children, not toddlers. Drawing circles occurs at 30 months.
Question 7
A nurse is assessing a 5-year-old preschooler. Which fine motor skill should the
nurse expect?
A) Copies a square
B) Draws a circle
C) Uses a fork and spoon
D) Ties shoelaces
Rationale: The correct answer is C. By 5 years, a child should be able to use a fork and
spoon . Copies a square occurs at 4-5 years. Draws a circle occurs at 3 years. Ties
shoelaces occurs at 6 years.
Question 8
Which of the following gross motor skills should a nurse expect in a 3-year-old
preschooler?
A) Rides a tricycle
B) Skips on alternate feet
C) Walks up and down stairs with alternating feet
D) Hops on one foot
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Rationale: The correct answer is A. 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.
Question 9
A nurse is assessing an 18-month-old toddler. Which fine motor skill should the
nurse expect?
A) Builds a tower of 6 blocks
B) Walks up and down stairs with two feet on each step
C) Throws a ball overhead
D) Draws circles
Rationale: The correct answer is C. At 18 months, toddlers can throw a ball overhead .
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.
Question 10
A nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant. Which reflex should the infant exhibit?
A) Moro
B) Plantar grasp
C) Stepping
D) Tonic neck
Rationale: The correct answer is B. The plantar grasp reflex persists until approximately
9-12 months of age, so it should be present at 6 months . The Moro reflex disappears by
4-6 months. The stepping reflex disappears by 4-6 months. The tonic neck reflex
disappears by 4-6 months.
Question 11
A nurse is teaching the guardian of a 6-month-old infant about car seat use. Which
of the following statements by the guardian indicates an understanding of the
teaching?
A) "I should secure the car seat using lower anchors and tethers instead of the seat
belt."
B) "I should position the car seat harness 1 inch above my baby's shoulders."
C) "I will make sure that the car seat is placed at a 90-degree angle."
D) "I will pad my baby's car seat with a blanket for traveling long distances."
Rationale: The correct answer is A. The correct answer is A. Securing the car seat using
lower anchors and tethers (LATCH system) is the recommended method . The harness
