Developmental Stages and Transitions Practice Test 2
Developmental Stages and Transitions NCLEX Practice Test
Developmental Stages and Transitions is a key topic within the NCLEX test plan, located under Health Promotion and Maintenance → Growth and Development → Developmental Stages and Transitions. This section connects growth milestones to screening, teaching, and age-appropriate nursing care. Each test contains 50 questions designed to mirror the difficulty and variety of the real exam.
This is the 2nd part of the Developmental Stages and Transitions series. To explore all practice tests under this topic, use the “Back to Main Topic” button at the end of the page.
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In the Developmental Stages and Transitions Study Cards section, shared by real NCLEX candidates, you’ll find concise summaries and high-yield insights related to the most tested concepts. It’s a perfect space to reinforce challenging topics and sharpen your recall through quick, focused repetitions. Short, powerful, and repeatable!
Developmental Stages and Transitions Practice Test 2
At what age does a child typically sit with support?
- 2 to 4 months
- 4 to 6 months
- 6 months
- 8 to 10 months
Explanation: Answer reason: Infants typically sit with support around 4–6 months; sitting independently is expected later (about 8 months).
By what percentage does height increase in the first year?
- 40%
- 50%
- 75%
- 100%
Explanation: Answer reason: Normal infant growth: body length increases by about 50% by 12 months (e.g., from ~50 cm at birth to ~75 cm).
Failure to thrive is defined as which of the following?
- Child is unable to stand
- Child is unable to sit
- Child is gaining weight adequately
- Child is unable to speak
Explanation: Answer reason: Failure to thrive reflects inadequate growth that can lead to delayed developmental milestones. Among the choices, inability to sit indicates a delay consistent with failure to thrive, whereas adequate weight gain would not indicate FTT.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), what is the defined age range for adolescents?
- 9-14 years
- 10-14 years
- 10-19 years
- 10-25 years
Explanation: Answer reason: WHO defines adolescents as individuals aged 10–19 years.
The mother of a 1-year-old wants to know when she should begin toilet-training her child. The nurse's response is based on the knowledge that sufficient sphincter control for toilet training is present by?
- 12–15 months of age
- 18–24 months of age
- 26–30 months of age
- 32–36 months of age
Explanation: Answer reason: Voluntary urethral and anal sphincter control typically develops around 18–24 months, marking physiologic readiness for toilet training.
A child with Down syndrome has a developmental age of 4 years. According to the Denver Developmental Assessment, the 4-year-old should be able to?
- Draw a man in six parts
- Give his first and last name
- Dress without supervision
- Define a list of words
Explanation: Answer reason: At 4 years, a child typically can state first and last name. Drawing a 6-part person and dressing without supervision are 5-year milestones; defining a list of words is for older children.
Which of the following combinations of foods is appropriate for a 6-month-old?
- Cocoa-flavored cereal, orange juice, and strained meat
- Graham crackers, strained prunes, and pudding
- Rice cereal, bananas, and strained carrots
- Mashed potatoes, strained beets, and boiled egg
Explanation: Answer reason: At about 6 months, appropriate complementary foods include iron-fortified rice cereal and pureed fruits and vegetables. Citrus juice, crackers, pudding (cow’s milk), and eggs are not recommended for a 6‑month‑old due to allergy, choking, or GI concerns.
Which of the following characterizes peer group relationships in 8- and 9-year-olds?
- Activities organized around competitive games
- Loyalty and strong same-sex friendships
- Informal socialization between boys and girls
- Shared activities with one best friend
Explanation: Answer reason: School-age children around 8–9 years typically form strong, loyal, same-sex peer groups; cross-sex informal socialization occurs later, and one-best-friend or purely competitive-game focus is less characteristic of peer-group relationships at this age.
If the school-age child is not given the opportunity to engage in tasks and activities he can carry through to completion, he is likely to develop feelings of?
- Guilt
- Shame
- Stagnation
- Inferiority
Explanation: Answer reason: In Erikson’s school-age stage (industry vs. inferiority), lack of opportunities to complete tasks and achieve competence leads to feelings of inferiority.
The nurse observes a group of toddlers at daycare. Which of the following play situations exhibits the characteristics of parallel play?
- Lindie and Laura sharing clay to make cookies
- Nick and Matt playing beside each other with trucks
- Adrienne working a puzzle with Meredith and Ryan
- Ashley playing with a busy box while sitting in her crib
Explanation: Answer reason: Parallel play is typical of toddlers; they play alongside peers without interacting directly. Playing beside each other with trucks best exemplifies this.
Which of the following statements is true regarding language development of young children?
- Infants can discriminate speech from other patterns of sound.
- Boys are more advanced in language development than girls of the same age.
- Second-born children develop language earlier than first-born or only children.
- Using single words for an entire sentence suggests delayed speech development.
Explanation: Answer reason: Newborns show preference for human speech and can discriminate speech sounds from other auditory patterns. Girls typically progress faster in language, first-borns often speak earlier than later-borns, and using single-word holophrases is normal early language, not necessarily delayed.
A mother tells the nurse that her daughter has become quite a collector, filling her room with Beanie babies, dolls, and stuffed animals. The nurse recognizes that the child is developing?
- Object permanence
- Post-conventional thinking
- Concrete operational thinking
- Pre-operational thinking
Explanation: Answer reason: Collecting and organizing items reflects classification and categorization skills, hallmark features of Piaget’s concrete operational stage (school-age). Other options correspond to sensorimotor (object permanence), preoperational (symbolic/egocentric), and Kohlberg’s post-conventional morality.
According to Erikson, the developmental task of the infant is to establish trust. Parents and caregivers foster a sense of trust by?
- Holding the infant during feedings
- Speaking quietly to the infant
- Providing sensory stimulation
- Consistently responding to needs
Explanation: Answer reason: Erikson’s trust vs. mistrust stage emphasizes consistent, reliable caregiving. Promptly and consistently meeting the infant’s needs builds trust more directly than isolated soothing actions.
Which one of the following infants needs a further assessment of growth?
- 4-month-old: birth weight 7lb, 6oz; current weight 14lb, 4oz
- 2-week-old: birth weight 6lb, 10oz; current weight 6lb, 12oz
- 6-month-old: birth weight 8lb, 8oz; current weight 15lb
- 2-month-old: birth weight 7lb, 2oz; current weight 9lb, 6oz
Explanation: Answer reason: By about 6 months, infants should have doubled their birth weight. From 8 lb 8 oz, the expected weight is ~17 lb; 15 lb is below this, warranting further assessment. The other weights are within normal expectations.
The mother of a 2-year-old asks the nurse when she should schedule her son's first dental visit. The nurse's response is based on the knowledge that most children have all their deciduous teeth by?
- 15 months
- 18 months
- 24 months
- 30 months
Explanation: Answer reason: Primary dentition (20 teeth) typically erupts from about 6 to 30 months; most children have all deciduous teeth by around 30 months (2.5 years).
An infant who weighs 8 pounds at birth would be expected to weigh how many pounds at 1 year?
- 14 pounds
- 16 pounds
- 18 pounds
- 24 pounds
Explanation: Answer reason: Birth weight typically triples by 12 months; 8 lb × 3 = 24 lb.
A 6-month-old client is placed on strict bed rest following a hernia repair. Which toy is best suited to the client?
- Colorful crib mobile
- Hand-held electronic games
- Cars in a plastic container
- 30-piece jigsaw puzzle
Explanation: Answer reason: At 6 months, infants benefit from visual/motion sensory stimulation and play is solitary; a colorful crib mobile is appropriate while on bed rest. The other options are for older children.
At what stage should a child begin to show interest in imaginative play and role-playing?
- 2 years
- 3 years
- 4 years
- 5 years
Explanation: Answer reason: Pretend/imaginative play typically emerges in early preschool around age 3, with more elaborate role-play by 4–5 years. The earliest stage listed is 3 years.
Which toy should the nurse recommend to support physical development and coordination for a 5-year-old child who enjoys active play?
- Toy b
- Aco diz
- A tricycle
- A¢ od
Explanation: Answer reason: A tricycle promotes gross motor skills, balance, and coordination appropriate for a 5-year-old who enjoys active play.
What is the first sign of sexual maturity in boys?
- Axillary hair
- Increase in facial hair
- Testicular enlargement
- Increase in height
Explanation: Answer reason: The earliest sign of male puberty is testicular enlargement (Tanner stage G2), which precedes axillary/facial hair and the growth spurt.
A newborn weighed 7 pounds at birth. At 6 months of age, the infant could be expected to weigh?
- 14 pounds
- 18 pounds
- 25 pounds
- 30 pounds
Explanation: Answer reason: Infant weight typically doubles by 4–6 months; a 7‑lb newborn would weigh about 14 lb at 6 months.
Which play activity is best suited to the gross motor skills of the toddler?
- Coloring book and crayons
- Ball
- Building cubes
- Swing set
Explanation: Answer reason: A ball promotes toddler gross motor skills such as running, throwing, and kicking. Coloring and building cubes are fine motor; a swing set is less developmentally appropriate/safer for independent toddler play.
Which of the following statements describes Piaget's stage of concrete operations?
- Reflex activity proceeds to imitative behavior.
- The ability to see another's point of view increases.
- Thought processes become more logical and coherent.
- The ability to think abstractly leads to logical conclusion.
Explanation: Answer reason: Concrete operational children (about 7–11 years) think logically about concrete events and display coherent, organized thought. A describes sensorimotor; D describes formal operations; B may occur but the hallmark is logical, coherent thought.
Which of the following statements reflects Kohlberg’s theory of the moral development of the preschool-age child?
- Obeying adults is seen as correct behavior.
- Showing respect for parents is seen as important.
- Pleasing others is viewed as good behavior.
- Behavior is determined by consequences.
Explanation: Answer reason: Preschoolers are at Kohlberg’s preconventional level where moral judgments are based on consequences—avoiding punishment and seeking rewards. The other options describe later conventional reasoning.
Which developmental milestone puts the 4-month-old infant at greatest risk for injury?
- Switching objects from one hand to another
- Crawling
- Standing
- Rolling over
Explanation: Answer reason: At about 4 months infants begin to roll over, increasing fall risk from beds or changing tables. The other milestones occur later.
The mother of a 6-month-old asks when her child will have all his baby teeth. The nurse knows that most children have all their primary teeth by age?
- 12 months
- 18 months
- 24 months
- 30 months
Explanation: Answer reason: Primary dentition (20 deciduous teeth) is typically complete by about 30 months (2.5 years).
At the 6-week check-up, the mother asks when she can expect the baby to sleep all night. The nurse should tell the mother that most infants begin to sleep all night by age?
- 1 month
- 2 months
- 3–4 months
- 5–6 months
Explanation: Answer reason: Most infants consolidate sleep and can sleep through the night (about 6–8 hours) by 3–4 months; earlier ages are too soon, and 5–6 months is later than typical.
What is the duration of the infant baby period in days?
- Birth to 24 days
- Birth to 15 days
- Birth to 8 days
- Birth to 28 days
Explanation: Answer reason: The neonatal (newborn) period is defined as from birth through 28 days; the item uses 'infant baby' to refer to this stage.
Tips for examining infants are except one?
- Approach the infant gradually, using a toy or object for distraction.
- Perform much of the examination with the infant in the absence of parents.
- Speak softly to the infant or mimic the infant’s sounds to attract attention.
- Ask a parent about the infant’s strengths to elicit useful developmental and parenting information.
Explanation: Answer reason: Infant exams are best done with a parent present to reduce anxiety and provide comfort and information; performing the exam without parents is inappropriate. The other options are appropriate strategies for infant assessment.
At what age do a baby's first teeth typically come out?
- 3 months
- 4 months
- 5 months
- 6 months
- 8 months
Explanation: Answer reason: The first primary teeth (lower central incisors) commonly erupt around 6 months of age; typical range is about 6–10 months.
At which age can a baby hold a small object between the index finger and thumb?
- 4 Months
- 6 Months
- 7 Months
- 9 Months
Explanation: Answer reason: Holding a small object between the index finger and thumb is the pincer grasp, which typically develops around 9 months of age.
A 6-year-old with cerebral palsy functions at the level of an 18-month-old. Which finding would support that assessment?
- She dresses herself.
- She pulls a toy behind her.
- She can build a tower of eight blocks.
- She can copy a horizontal or vertical line.
Explanation: Answer reason: Pulling a toy while walking is a typical gross-motor milestone for an 18-month-old. Dressing self, building an 8-block tower, and copying lines are skills expected at older ages.
A infant weighs 7 pounds at birth. The expected weight by 1 year should be?
- 10 pounds
- 12 pounds
- 18 pounds
- 21 pounds
Explanation: Answer reason: Birth weight typically triples by 12 months. 7 lb × 3 ≈ 21 lb.
A 2-year-old toddler is admitted to the hospital. Which of the following nursing interventions would you expect?
- Ask the parent/guardian to leave the room when assessments are being performed.
- Ask the parent/guardian to take the child’s favorite blanket home because anything from the outside should not be brought into the hospital.
- Ask the parent/guardian to room-in with the child.
- If the child is screaming, tell him this is inappropriate behavior.
Explanation: Answer reason: Toddlers experience separation anxiety; encouraging parental rooming-in supports security and reduces stress. Other options increase anxiety or are non-therapeutic.
While giving care to a two year-old client, the nurse should remember that the toddler's tendency to say "no" to almost everything is an indication of?
- Stubborn behavior
- Rejection of parents
- Frustration with adults
- Assertion of control
Explanation: Answer reason: Toddlers commonly exhibit negativism and say "no" as they develop autonomy. This reflects assertion of control, not rejection or stubbornness.
A parent tells the nurse that their six year-old child who normally enjoys school, has not been doing well since his grandmother died two months ago. Which statement MOST accurately describes thoughts on death and dying at this age?
- Death is personified as the bogeyman or devil
- Death is perceived as being irreversible
- The child feels guilty for the grandmother's death
- The child is worried that he, too, might die
Explanation: Answer reason: At about age 6, children often view death in magical and personified terms (e.g., a bogeyman). Irreversibility and personal mortality are better understood later; guilt attribution is more typical of preschoolers.
The nurse is assessing the growth and development of a toddler with AIDS. The nurse would anticipate finding that the child is?
- Achieving developmental milestones at normal rate
- Delayed in musculoskeletal development
- Displaying difficulty with speech development
- Delayed in achieving all developmental milestones
Explanation: Answer reason: Children with AIDS commonly have CNS involvement leading to global developmental delays and possible loss of milestones, not isolated delays.
A nurse who is evaluating a mentally retarded two year-old in a clinic should stress the following goal when talking to the child's mother?
- Teaching the child self care skills
- Preparing for independent toileting
- Promoting the child's optimal development
- Helping the family decide on long term care
Explanation: Answer reason: For children with intellectual disability, the primary nursing goal is to promote optimal growth and development and maximize potential. Self-care tasks and independent toileting are secondary and may be unrealistic for a 2-year-old; long-term care decisions are not the priority.
An infant weighed 7 pounds 8 ounces at birth. If growth occurs at a normal rate, the nurse would expect the six month-old to?
- Double the birth weight
- Triple the birth weight
- Gain 6 ounces each week
- Add 2 pounds each month
Explanation: Answer reason: By about 6 months, infants typically double their birth weight; they usually triple it by 12 months.
A mother brings her 26 month-old to the well-child clinic. She expresses frustration and anger due to her child's constantly saying "no" and his refusal to follow her directions. The nurse explains this is normal for his age, as negativism is attempting to meet which developmental need?
- Trust
- Initiative
- Independence
- Self-esteem
Explanation: Answer reason: Toddlers (1–3 years) are in Erikson’s autonomy vs. shame and doubt stage. Saying "no" (negativism) reflects the drive for autonomy/independence, not trust (infancy) or initiative (preschool).
While planning care for a two year-old hospitalized child, the nurse expects that behavior would be MOST affected by?
- Strange bed and surroundings
- Separation from parents
- Presence of other toddlers
- Unfamiliar toys and games
Explanation: Answer reason: Toddlers experience pronounced separation anxiety between about 6 and 30 months; during hospitalization, separation from parents is the greatest stressor and most affects behavior compared with unfamiliar environment, peers, or toys.
A parent has numerous questions regarding normal growth and development of a 10 month-old infant. Which of the following parameters is of MOST concern to the nurse?
- 50% increase in birth weight
- Head circumference greater than chest
- Crying when the parents leave
- Able to stand up briefly in play pen
Explanation: Answer reason: At 10 months, an infant’s weight should be approaching triple the birth weight; a 50% increase indicates inadequate growth and is concerning. The other findings are typical for this age.
The nurse in a well-child clinic examines many children on a daily basis. Which of the following toddlers requires further follow up?
- A 13 month-old unable to walk
- A 20 month-old only using 2 and 3 word sentences
- A 24 month-old who cries during examination
- A 30 month-old only drinking from a sippy cup
Explanation: Answer reason: By 30 months, a toddler should be able to drink from an open cup; reliance on a sippy cup suggests a delayed self-feeding/oral-motor milestone. The other options reflect behaviors within normal variation for those ages.
The nurse is performing physical assessments on adolescents. The nurse would anticipate that females experience growth spurts?
- About two years earlier than males
- About the same time as males
- Just prior to the onset of puberty
- That increase height by four inches each year
Explanation: Answer reason: Females typically enter puberty and reach peak height velocity earlier than males, with growth spurts occurring about two years sooner.
A 16 month-old child has just been admitted to the hospital. As the nurse assigned to this child enters the hospital room for the first time, the toddler runs to the mother, clings to her and begins to cry. What would be the initial action by the nurse?
- Arrange to change client care assignments
- Explain that this behavior is expected
- Discuss the appropriate use of "time-out"
- Explain that the child needs extra attention
Explanation: Answer reason: A 16‑month‑old commonly shows stranger anxiety and separation fears; clinging to the parent and crying are expected developmental behaviors. The nurse should reassure rather than change assignments, use time-out, or label the child as needing extra attention.
While explaining an illness to a ten year-old, the nurse should keep in mind that at this developmental stage a child will?
- Make simple association of ideas
- Think logically in organizing facts
- Interpret events from own perspective
- Base conclusions on abstract thinking
Explanation: Answer reason: A 10-year-old is in Piaget's concrete operational stage and can think logically about concrete facts and organize information. Egocentrism and simple associations reflect earlier stages, and abstract reasoning develops in formal operations during adolescence.
Which playroom activities should the nurse organize for a small group of seven year-old hospitalized children?
- Sports and games with rules
- Finger paints and water play
- "Dress-up" clothes and props
- Chess and television programs
Explanation: Answer reason: Seven-year-olds are school-age children who engage in cooperative play and enjoy activities with rules, promoting social skills and logical reasoning. Sports and rule-based games best fit this developmental stage.
Assuming that all have achieved normal cognitive and emotional development, which of the following children is at greatest risk for accidental poisoning?
- A 6-month-old
- A 4-year-old
- A 12-year-old
- A 13-year-old
Explanation: Answer reason: Preschoolers/toddlers are highly mobile and curious, engage in oral exploration, and lack hazard awareness—making 4-year-olds the highest risk for accidental poisoning among the options.
Which of the following examples represents parallel play?
- Jenny and Tommy share their toys.
- Jimmy plays with his car beside Mary, who is playing with her doll.
- Kevin plays a game of Scrabble with Kathy and Sue.
- Mary plays with a handheld game while sitting in her mother's lap.
Explanation: Answer reason: Parallel play is when children play side-by-side without interacting directly. Option B describes two children playing near each other with separate toys. A and C involve interaction/cooperative play, and D is solitary play.
The nurse is ready to begin an exam on a 9-month-old infant. The child is sitting in his mother's lap. Which should the nurse do first?
- Check the Babinski reflex
- Listen to the heart and lung sounds
- Palpate the abdomen
- Check tympanic membranes
Explanation: Answer reason: With infants, perform the least disturbing assessments first while the child is quiet; auscultate heart and lungs before manipulative steps like ear exam or abdominal palpation.
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