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KAPLAN PEDIATRIC GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT
ASSESSMENT 2026/2027 COMPLETE (100) CURRENT
TESTING QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH
DETAILED RATIONALES.
PEDIATRIC
Prepare for the Kaplan Pediatric Growth & Development Assessment with a focused
study resource covering essential concepts in pediatric growth, development, and
age-appropriate nursing care. It supports review of developmental milestones,
physical and psychosocial development, developmental screening, health promotion,
safety, and caregiver education. Use the material to reinforce key concepts,
strengthen clinical reasoning, and identify areas that may require additional study.
This resource is best suited for nursing students and NCLEX candidates preparing for
pediatric growth and development assessments.
MULTIPLE CHOICE.
THEORIES OF DEVELOPMENT
1. A nurse is assessing a 4-year-old child. According to Erikson's theory of
psychosocial development, the child is in which stage?
A) Trust vs. Mistrust
B) Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
C) Initiative vs. Guilt
D) Industry vs. Inferiority
Answer: C) Initiative vs. Guilt
Rationale: According to Erikson, the preschooler (3-5 years) is in the
Initiative vs. Guilt stage. The child develops a sense of purpose and the
ability to initiate activities. Success leads to a sense of initiative, while
failure leads to guilt. Trust vs. Mistrust is infancy, Autonomy vs. Shame
and Doubt is toddlerhood, and Industry vs. Inferiority is school age.
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2. A nurse is assessing a 10-month-old infant. According to Piaget's theory
of cognitive development, the infant is in which stage?
A) Sensorimotor stage
B) Preoperational stage
C) Concrete operational stage
D) Formal operational stage
Answer: A) Sensorimotor stage
Rationale: Piaget's sensorimotor stage is from birth to 2 years. During this
stage, infants learn about the world through sensory experiences and
motor activities. Object permanence develops during this stage (around
8-12 months). Preoperational stage is 2-7 years, concrete operational is 7-
11 years, and formal operational is adolescence.
3. A nurse is assessing a 14-year-old adolescent. According to Erikson, the
adolescent is in which stage of psychosocial development?
A) Identity vs. Role Confusion
B) Intimacy vs. Isolation
C) Industry vs. Inferiority
D) Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
Answer: A) Identity vs. Role Confusion
Rationale: Adolescence (12-18 years) is characterized by Identity vs. Role
Confusion. The adolescent explores roles, values, and beliefs to develop
a sense of identity. Intimacy vs. Isolation is young adulthood, Industry vs.
Inferiority is school age, and Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt is
toddlerhood.
4. A nurse is assessing a 7-year-old child. According to Freud's theory of
psychosexual development, the child is in which stage?
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A) Oral stage
B) Anal stage
C) Phallic stage
D) Latency stage
Answer: D) Latency stage
Rationale: Freud's latency stage occurs from 6-12 years. During this stage,
sexual impulses are repressed, and the child focuses on social
interactions, learning, and developing skills. The oral stage is infancy, the
anal stage is toddlerhood, and the phallic stage is preschool (3-6 years).
5. A nurse is assessing a 16-year-old adolescent. According to Piaget, the
adolescent is in which stage of cognitive development?
A) Sensorimotor
B) Preoperational
C) Concrete operational
D) Formal operational
Answer: D) Formal operational
Rationale: Piaget's formal operational stage begins at 11-12 years and
continues into adulthood. During this stage, the adolescent develops
abstract thinking, logical reasoning, and the ability to think about
hypothetical situations. Concrete operational is 7-11 years,
preoperational is 2-7 years, and sensorimotor is birth to 2 years.
6. A nurse is providing anticipatory guidance to the parents of a 3-year-old
child. According to Erikson, the child is developing which virtue?
A) Hope
B) Will
C) Purpose
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D) Competence
Answer: C) Purpose
Rationale: Erikson's Initiative vs. Guilt stage (3-5 years) is associated with
the virtue of purpose. The child learns to initiate activities and take on
new challenges. Hope is from Trust vs. Mistrust, Will is from Autonomy vs.
Shame and Doubt, and Competence is from Industry vs. Inferiority.
7. A nurse is assessing a 2-year-old child. According to Erikson, the child
is developing which virtue?
A) Hope
B) Will
C) Purpose
D) Competence
Answer: B) Will
Rationale: Erikson's Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt stage (1-3 years) is
associated with the virtue of will. The child learns to assert independence
and make choices. Hope is from Trust vs. Mistrust, Purpose is from
Initiative vs. Guilt, and Competence is from Industry vs. Inferiority.
8. A nurse is assessing an infant. According to Piaget, the infant's behavior
is driven primarily by:
A) Reflexes and sensory exploration
B) Symbolic thought
C) Logical reasoning
D) Abstract thinking
Answer: A) Reflexes and sensory exploration
Rationale: In Piaget's sensorimotor stage, infants learn through reflexes,
sensory experiences, and motor activities. They use senses to explore
KAPLAN PEDIATRIC GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT
ASSESSMENT 2026/2027 COMPLETE (100) CURRENT
TESTING QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH
DETAILED RATIONALES.
PEDIATRIC
Prepare for the Kaplan Pediatric Growth & Development Assessment with a focused
study resource covering essential concepts in pediatric growth, development, and
age-appropriate nursing care. It supports review of developmental milestones,
physical and psychosocial development, developmental screening, health promotion,
safety, and caregiver education. Use the material to reinforce key concepts,
strengthen clinical reasoning, and identify areas that may require additional study.
This resource is best suited for nursing students and NCLEX candidates preparing for
pediatric growth and development assessments.
MULTIPLE CHOICE.
THEORIES OF DEVELOPMENT
1. A nurse is assessing a 4-year-old child. According to Erikson's theory of
psychosocial development, the child is in which stage?
A) Trust vs. Mistrust
B) Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
C) Initiative vs. Guilt
D) Industry vs. Inferiority
Answer: C) Initiative vs. Guilt
Rationale: According to Erikson, the preschooler (3-5 years) is in the
Initiative vs. Guilt stage. The child develops a sense of purpose and the
ability to initiate activities. Success leads to a sense of initiative, while
failure leads to guilt. Trust vs. Mistrust is infancy, Autonomy vs. Shame
and Doubt is toddlerhood, and Industry vs. Inferiority is school age.
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2. A nurse is assessing a 10-month-old infant. According to Piaget's theory
of cognitive development, the infant is in which stage?
A) Sensorimotor stage
B) Preoperational stage
C) Concrete operational stage
D) Formal operational stage
Answer: A) Sensorimotor stage
Rationale: Piaget's sensorimotor stage is from birth to 2 years. During this
stage, infants learn about the world through sensory experiences and
motor activities. Object permanence develops during this stage (around
8-12 months). Preoperational stage is 2-7 years, concrete operational is 7-
11 years, and formal operational is adolescence.
3. A nurse is assessing a 14-year-old adolescent. According to Erikson, the
adolescent is in which stage of psychosocial development?
A) Identity vs. Role Confusion
B) Intimacy vs. Isolation
C) Industry vs. Inferiority
D) Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
Answer: A) Identity vs. Role Confusion
Rationale: Adolescence (12-18 years) is characterized by Identity vs. Role
Confusion. The adolescent explores roles, values, and beliefs to develop
a sense of identity. Intimacy vs. Isolation is young adulthood, Industry vs.
Inferiority is school age, and Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt is
toddlerhood.
4. A nurse is assessing a 7-year-old child. According to Freud's theory of
psychosexual development, the child is in which stage?
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A) Oral stage
B) Anal stage
C) Phallic stage
D) Latency stage
Answer: D) Latency stage
Rationale: Freud's latency stage occurs from 6-12 years. During this stage,
sexual impulses are repressed, and the child focuses on social
interactions, learning, and developing skills. The oral stage is infancy, the
anal stage is toddlerhood, and the phallic stage is preschool (3-6 years).
5. A nurse is assessing a 16-year-old adolescent. According to Piaget, the
adolescent is in which stage of cognitive development?
A) Sensorimotor
B) Preoperational
C) Concrete operational
D) Formal operational
Answer: D) Formal operational
Rationale: Piaget's formal operational stage begins at 11-12 years and
continues into adulthood. During this stage, the adolescent develops
abstract thinking, logical reasoning, and the ability to think about
hypothetical situations. Concrete operational is 7-11 years,
preoperational is 2-7 years, and sensorimotor is birth to 2 years.
6. A nurse is providing anticipatory guidance to the parents of a 3-year-old
child. According to Erikson, the child is developing which virtue?
A) Hope
B) Will
C) Purpose
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D) Competence
Answer: C) Purpose
Rationale: Erikson's Initiative vs. Guilt stage (3-5 years) is associated with
the virtue of purpose. The child learns to initiate activities and take on
new challenges. Hope is from Trust vs. Mistrust, Will is from Autonomy vs.
Shame and Doubt, and Competence is from Industry vs. Inferiority.
7. A nurse is assessing a 2-year-old child. According to Erikson, the child
is developing which virtue?
A) Hope
B) Will
C) Purpose
D) Competence
Answer: B) Will
Rationale: Erikson's Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt stage (1-3 years) is
associated with the virtue of will. The child learns to assert independence
and make choices. Hope is from Trust vs. Mistrust, Purpose is from
Initiative vs. Guilt, and Competence is from Industry vs. Inferiority.
8. A nurse is assessing an infant. According to Piaget, the infant's behavior
is driven primarily by:
A) Reflexes and sensory exploration
B) Symbolic thought
C) Logical reasoning
D) Abstract thinking
Answer: A) Reflexes and sensory exploration
Rationale: In Piaget's sensorimotor stage, infants learn through reflexes,
sensory experiences, and motor activities. They use senses to explore
