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ATI PEDIATRICS (NURSING CARE OF CHILDREN)
EXAM LATEST VERSION QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 2026 EDITION
ATI PEDIATRICS (NURSING CARE OF CHILDREN) PRACTICE EXAM
250 Questions with Rationales
SECTION 1: GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT (Questions 1-40)
1. A nurse is assessing a 4-month-old infant during a well-child visit. Which
developmental milestone should the nurse expect to observe?
• A. The infant can sit without support.
• B. The infant can roll from back to abdomen.
• C. The infant can grasp a rattle and transfer it from one hand to the other.
• D. The infant can say "mama" and "dada" with meaning.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: At 4 months of age, infants typically begin rolling from back to abdomen.
Sitting without support (A) is expected around 6-8 months. Transferring objects (C)
occurs around 6 months. Saying "mama" and "dada" with meaning (D) typically occurs
around 9-10 months.
2. A nurse is providing anticipatory guidance to the parents of a 12-month-old
infant. Which statement by the parents indicates a need for further teaching
regarding safety?
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• A. "We will place the crib mattress in the lowest position now that our baby can
pull to stand."
• B. "We will continue to place our baby on the back for sleep to reduce the risk of
SIDS."
• C. "We will install safety gates at the top and bottom of the stairs."
• D. "We will keep small objects within reach to help develop the pincer grasp."
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: At 12 months, infants can pick up small objects using a pincer grasp, which
poses a significant choking hazard. Small objects should be kept out of reach. The other
statements are correct safety measures: lowering the crib mattress (A) prevents falls,
back sleeping (B) reduces SIDS risk, and safety gates (C) prevent falls on stairs.
3. A nurse is assessing a 2-year-old toddler during a well-child visit. Which fine
motor skill should the nurse expect the child to be able to perform?
• A. Build a tower of four cubes.
• B. Draw a circle.
• C. Tie shoelaces.
• D. Use a fork independently.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: At 2 years of age, toddlers can build a tower of four cubes. Drawing a circle
(B) is a milestone for a 3-year-old. Tying shoelaces (C) is a skill for a 5-6-year-old. Using
a fork independently (D) is expected around 3-4 years.
4. A nurse is assessing a 4-year-old preschooler's development. Which gross motor
skill would the nurse expect this child to be able to perform?
• A. Hop on one foot.
• B. Ride a tricycle.
• C. Skip.
• D. Stand on one foot for 10 seconds.
Correct Answer: A
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Rationale: At 4 years, children can hop on one foot. Riding a tricycle (B) is expected at 3
years. Skipping (C) is a skill for 5-6 years. Standing on one foot for 10 seconds (D) is
expected at 5 years.
5. A nurse is assessing a 7-year-old school-age child's development. Which
cognitive milestone, according to Piaget, should the nurse expect this child to
exhibit?
• A. The child can think logically about concrete events.
• B. The child can think abstractly and use hypothetical reasoning.
• C. The child uses magical thinking and animism.
• D. The child is in the sensorimotor stage and learns through senses.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: According to Piaget, school-age children (7-11 years) are in the concrete
operational stage, where they can think logically about concrete events. Abstract
thinking (B) occurs in the formal operational stage (adolescence). Magical thinking and
animism (C) occur in the preoperational stage (2-7 years). The sensorimotor stage (D)
occurs from birth to 2 years.
6. A nurse is providing education to the parents of a 15-month-old toddler about
developmental milestones. Which statement by the parents indicates an
understanding of the teaching?
• A. "Our toddler should be able to walk independently by now."
• B. "Our toddler should be able to ride a tricycle."
• C. "Our toddler should be able to draw a circle."
• D. "Our toddler should be able to use a spoon without spilling."
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: At 15 months, toddlers can typically walk independently. Riding a tricycle (B)
is a milestone for 3-year-olds. Drawing a circle (C) is a milestone for 3-year-olds. Using a
spoon without spilling (D) is a milestone for toddlers but is more refined at 2-3 years, not
typically expected at 15 months.
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7. A nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant during a well-child visit. Which
developmental milestone should the nurse expect to observe?
• A. The infant can sit without support.
• B. The infant can roll from back to stomach.
• C. The infant can walk with assistance.
• D. The infant can pick up small objects with a pincer grasp.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: By 6 months, infants can roll from back to stomach. Sitting without support
(A) typically occurs at 7-8 months. Walking with assistance (C) occurs at 9-12 months.
The pincer grasp (D) develops at 9-10 months.
8. A nurse is providing teaching to the parents of a 3-year-old child about expected
developmental milestones. Which statement by the parents indicates a correct
understanding of the teaching?
• A. "Our child should be able to ride a tricycle."
• B. "Our child should be able to tie their shoelaces."
• C. "Our child should be able to hop on one foot."
• D. "Our child should be able to draw a person with 6 body parts."
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: At 3 years, children can ride a tricycle. Tying shoelaces (B) is a skill for 5-6-
year-olds. Hopping on one foot (C) is expected at 4 years. Drawing a person with 6 body
parts (D) is expected at 5 years.
9. A nurse is assessing a 10-month-old infant. The nurse notes that the infant has a
positive Babinski reflex. What is the most appropriate nursing action?
• A. Notify the healthcare provider immediately.
• B. Document the finding as a normal reflex.
• C. Refer the infant to a neurologist.
• D. Reassess the reflex in 1 month.
Correct Answer: B
ATI PEDIATRICS (NURSING CARE OF CHILDREN)
EXAM LATEST VERSION QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 2026 EDITION
ATI PEDIATRICS (NURSING CARE OF CHILDREN) PRACTICE EXAM
250 Questions with Rationales
SECTION 1: GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT (Questions 1-40)
1. A nurse is assessing a 4-month-old infant during a well-child visit. Which
developmental milestone should the nurse expect to observe?
• A. The infant can sit without support.
• B. The infant can roll from back to abdomen.
• C. The infant can grasp a rattle and transfer it from one hand to the other.
• D. The infant can say "mama" and "dada" with meaning.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: At 4 months of age, infants typically begin rolling from back to abdomen.
Sitting without support (A) is expected around 6-8 months. Transferring objects (C)
occurs around 6 months. Saying "mama" and "dada" with meaning (D) typically occurs
around 9-10 months.
2. A nurse is providing anticipatory guidance to the parents of a 12-month-old
infant. Which statement by the parents indicates a need for further teaching
regarding safety?
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• A. "We will place the crib mattress in the lowest position now that our baby can
pull to stand."
• B. "We will continue to place our baby on the back for sleep to reduce the risk of
SIDS."
• C. "We will install safety gates at the top and bottom of the stairs."
• D. "We will keep small objects within reach to help develop the pincer grasp."
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: At 12 months, infants can pick up small objects using a pincer grasp, which
poses a significant choking hazard. Small objects should be kept out of reach. The other
statements are correct safety measures: lowering the crib mattress (A) prevents falls,
back sleeping (B) reduces SIDS risk, and safety gates (C) prevent falls on stairs.
3. A nurse is assessing a 2-year-old toddler during a well-child visit. Which fine
motor skill should the nurse expect the child to be able to perform?
• A. Build a tower of four cubes.
• B. Draw a circle.
• C. Tie shoelaces.
• D. Use a fork independently.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: At 2 years of age, toddlers can build a tower of four cubes. Drawing a circle
(B) is a milestone for a 3-year-old. Tying shoelaces (C) is a skill for a 5-6-year-old. Using
a fork independently (D) is expected around 3-4 years.
4. A nurse is assessing a 4-year-old preschooler's development. Which gross motor
skill would the nurse expect this child to be able to perform?
• A. Hop on one foot.
• B. Ride a tricycle.
• C. Skip.
• D. Stand on one foot for 10 seconds.
Correct Answer: A
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Rationale: At 4 years, children can hop on one foot. Riding a tricycle (B) is expected at 3
years. Skipping (C) is a skill for 5-6 years. Standing on one foot for 10 seconds (D) is
expected at 5 years.
5. A nurse is assessing a 7-year-old school-age child's development. Which
cognitive milestone, according to Piaget, should the nurse expect this child to
exhibit?
• A. The child can think logically about concrete events.
• B. The child can think abstractly and use hypothetical reasoning.
• C. The child uses magical thinking and animism.
• D. The child is in the sensorimotor stage and learns through senses.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: According to Piaget, school-age children (7-11 years) are in the concrete
operational stage, where they can think logically about concrete events. Abstract
thinking (B) occurs in the formal operational stage (adolescence). Magical thinking and
animism (C) occur in the preoperational stage (2-7 years). The sensorimotor stage (D)
occurs from birth to 2 years.
6. A nurse is providing education to the parents of a 15-month-old toddler about
developmental milestones. Which statement by the parents indicates an
understanding of the teaching?
• A. "Our toddler should be able to walk independently by now."
• B. "Our toddler should be able to ride a tricycle."
• C. "Our toddler should be able to draw a circle."
• D. "Our toddler should be able to use a spoon without spilling."
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: At 15 months, toddlers can typically walk independently. Riding a tricycle (B)
is a milestone for 3-year-olds. Drawing a circle (C) is a milestone for 3-year-olds. Using a
spoon without spilling (D) is a milestone for toddlers but is more refined at 2-3 years, not
typically expected at 15 months.
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7. A nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant during a well-child visit. Which
developmental milestone should the nurse expect to observe?
• A. The infant can sit without support.
• B. The infant can roll from back to stomach.
• C. The infant can walk with assistance.
• D. The infant can pick up small objects with a pincer grasp.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: By 6 months, infants can roll from back to stomach. Sitting without support
(A) typically occurs at 7-8 months. Walking with assistance (C) occurs at 9-12 months.
The pincer grasp (D) develops at 9-10 months.
8. A nurse is providing teaching to the parents of a 3-year-old child about expected
developmental milestones. Which statement by the parents indicates a correct
understanding of the teaching?
• A. "Our child should be able to ride a tricycle."
• B. "Our child should be able to tie their shoelaces."
• C. "Our child should be able to hop on one foot."
• D. "Our child should be able to draw a person with 6 body parts."
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: At 3 years, children can ride a tricycle. Tying shoelaces (B) is a skill for 5-6-
year-olds. Hopping on one foot (C) is expected at 4 years. Drawing a person with 6 body
parts (D) is expected at 5 years.
9. A nurse is assessing a 10-month-old infant. The nurse notes that the infant has a
positive Babinski reflex. What is the most appropriate nursing action?
• A. Notify the healthcare provider immediately.
• B. Document the finding as a normal reflex.
• C. Refer the infant to a neurologist.
• D. Reassess the reflex in 1 month.
Correct Answer: B
