Growth & Development Quiz Answer Key

1. Correct Answer: B. Toddler

Regression is most seen among toddlers and it can be caused by stressful situations such as hospitalization,
the arrival of a new sibling, or starting a new school. When a child regresses, he or she appears to be going
backward in an earlier stage of development where he or she feels comfortable (e.g. toilet trained toddlers
suddenly start wetting their pants when they become sick, thumb sucking).
Option A: Babies are almost entirely dependent on their caregivers. So it should come as no surprise
that how parents interact with their babies has a profound effect on both their physical and mental
health. Noticing and responding to these signals, whether they are cries, body movements, coos, or
even words, helps them learn to trust the people and the world around them.
Option C: There’s no doubt the teen years can be a more challenging time to deal with a health
condition. In addition to the social pressures to fit in, it’s a time of learning about and understanding
their bodies. At a time when it’s natural to be concerned with body image, it can seem hard to feel
different. It’s understandable that people can feel just plain sick and tired of dealing with a chronic
illness once in a while.
Option D: Regression may happen in this age group but it is more common in toddler years.
Struggling in this stage of life can result in loneliness and isolation. Loneliness can affect overall health
in other ways. For example, socially isolated people tend to have unhealthier diets, exercise less,
experience greater daytime fatigue, and have poorer sleep.

2. Correct Answer: C. SIDS

According to the CDC, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) remains to be one of the leading causes of infant
death. Around 1,300 infants died in 2018 due to this condition. SIDS is defined as the sudden and unexplained
death of a baby younger than 1-year-old. Most of the deaths happened between the ages of one and 6
months. Factors that increase the risk of SIDS include stomach sleeping, a sibling who died of SIDS, mothers
who smoke during pregnancy, exposure to secondhand smoking, sleeping areas containing soft blankets,
pillows, or toys, and a lack of prenatal care.
Option A: Neonatal sepsis refers to an infection involving the bloodstream in newborn infants less
than 28 days old. It remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among neonates, especially in
middle and lower-income countries. Due to the nonspecific neonatal presentation for sepsis and the
high risk of mortality and morbidity without treatment, many asymptomatic neonates undergo a
sepsis workup if risk factors are present and/or clinically indicated.
Option B: As the most common cause of respiratory distress in premature infants, RDS occurs in
about 24,000 infants born in the United States annually. It is also the most common complication of
prematurity leading to significant morbidity in late preterm neonates and even mortality in very low
birth weight infants.
Option D: Neonatal hemorrhage is also part of the leading causes of infant mortality but occurs less
often than SIDS. All infants irrespective of race, sex, color, religion, national origin, etc. are known to
be affected by vitamin K deficiency bleeding. In early VKDB, the incidence in infants who have not
received vitamin K prophylaxis ranges from about 6% to 12%. In classic VKDB, the incidence has gone
down from 0.25% to 1.5% in earlier studies to 0.01% to 0.44% in recent studies.

3. Correct Answer: A. Adolescence

Although it occurs throughout one’s lifetime, identity development is considered to be the primary
psychosocial task of adolescence or as described by Erickson on identity versus identity confusion. Individuals
in this stage start to integrate their values, abilities, inner drives, and past experiences into who they are as
persons.
 Option B: Toddlers at their age focus on developing their physical, emotional, cognitive, language,
and motor skills. Gaining a sense of personal control over the world is important at this stage of
development. Children at this age are becoming increasingly independent and want to gain more
control over what they do and how they do it.
Option C: Middle childhood is a stage where children learn skills that will help them build social
relationships that will prepare them for adolescence. A child’s social world expands considerably as
they enter school and gain new friendships with peers. Through social interactions, children begin to
develop a sense of pride in their accomplishments and abilities.
Option D: Young adulthood would focus on building intimate and loving relationships with other
people. Romantic and sexual relationships can be an important part of this stage of life, but intimacy
is more about having close, loving relationships. It includes romantic partners, but it can also
encompass close, enduring friendships with people outside of the family.

4. Correct Answer: A. Adolescence

The adolescent stage is the time where the body starts to change and with factors including exposure from
media and peer pressure that provide them the perception of an ideal body image which would then affect
their dietary behaviors leading to eating disorders.
Option B: Gaining a sense of personal control over the world is important at this stage of
development. Children at this age are becoming increasingly independent and want to gain more
control over what they do and how they do it. Other important events include gaining more control
over food choices, toy preferences, and clothing selection.
Option C: This is the age group where they become picky eaters but it would not lead to serious
eating disorders. Children need to begin asserting control and power over the environment by taking
initiative by planning activities, accomplishing tasks, and facing challenges.
Option D: During infancy, infants’ eating habits are characterized by a transition from consuming
breastmilk or formula to consuming solid foods. Erikson also believed that feeding played a pivotal
role in the development of trust. By feeding an infant when the child is hungry, they learn that they
can trust their need for nourishment will be met.

5. Correct Answer: A. Allow the newborn infant to signal a need.

If a newborn is not allowed to signal a need, the newborn will not learn how to control the environment. The
primary way the caregiver can build trust with the baby is to respond when they try to communicate. Because
babies can’t use words to express themselves, they use nonverbal strategies to communicate what they’re
thinking and feeling at all times.
Option B: According to Erikson, the caregiver should not try to anticipate the newborn infant’s needs
at all times but must allow the newborn infant to signal needs. Crying is one of the most common
strategies babies use to communicate with their caregivers, and it carries different meanings.
Option C: It is important for caregivers to provide comfort to an infant by holding them closely and
securely. This provides both warmth and physical contact. Feeding, bathing, and comforting your
child helps them learn to trust that their needs will be met.
Option D: Erikson believed that a delayed or prolonged response to a newborn’s signal would inhibit
the development of trust and lead to mistrust of others. By responding quickly and appropriately to
the infant’s cries, the caregiver is building a foundation of trust.

6. Correct Answer: C. Set limits on the child’s behavior.

Being consistent and setting limits on the child’s behavior are the necessary elements in order for the toddler
to learn what is acceptable so they can understand the impact of their behaviors.
 Option A: Saying things like “no” or “mine” and having temper tantrums are common during this
period of development. Parents who are negative or who punish a child for simple mistakes can
contribute to feelings of shame or self-doubt.
Option B: According to Erikson, the child focuses on independence between ages 1 and 3 years.
Gaining independence often means that the child has to rebel against the parents’ wishes. Children at
this age are becoming increasingly independent and want to gain more control over what they do and
how they do it.
Option D: Do not ignore the child when this behavior occurs. Instead, provide opportunities for
children to be independent. Allow them to make food, clothing, and toy choices and provide
reassurance that they have done a good job.

7. Correct Answer: D. This is a normal pattern.

The phases through which young children progress when separated from their parents include protest,
despair, and denial or detachment. In the stage of despair, the child may not approach them readily or may
cling to a parent.
Option A: In the stage of protest, when the parents return, the child readily goes to them. The protest
phase begins immediately upon separation and lasts up to weeks on end. It is indicated by outward
signs of distress such as crying, tantrum behavior, and searching for the return of the parent. Protest
decreases during the despair phase, and children become withdrawn and helpless.
Option B: While it may be frustrating to have children who appear to be self-centered, unrelenting,
and impulsive, it can be comforting to learn that these traits are typical of the development of all
children. When children are listened to and their feelings are accepted, they are more likely to
respond to other people with understanding and compassion.
Option C: In denial or detachment, when the parents return, the child becomes cheerful, interested in
the environment and new persons (seemingly unaware of the lost parents), friendly with the staff,
and interested in developing superficial relationships.

8. Correct Answer: D. Allow the bottle if it contains water

It is recommended that parents should wean their children off the bottle at 15-18 months of age. But If a
bottle is still attached to the child at 3 years of age during naptime or bedtime, it should contain only water to
prevent the risk of dental caries.
Option A: Generally, the last bottle to stop should be the nighttime bottle. That bottle tends to be a
part of the bedtime routine and is the one that most provides comfort to babies. If you keep getting
asked for a bottle, find out what the child really needs or wants and offer that instead.
Option B: As the parent weans the baby from the bottle, try diluting the milk in the bottle with water.
For the first few days, fill half of it with water and half of it with milk. Then slowly add more water
until the entire bottle is water. By that time, it’s likely that the child will lose interest and be asking for
the milk that comes in a cup.
Option C: A toddler should never be allowed to fall asleep with a bottle containing milk, juice, soda, or
sweetened water because frequent and long exposure to drinks containing sugar may cause tooth
decay and cavities.

9. Correct Answer: B. Uses a cup to drink

By age 2 years, the child can use a cup and can use a spoon correctly but with some spilling. Children can start
learning how to use a cup without a lid when they are 9 months old. Most experts recommend introducing
utensils between 10 and 12 months, as an almost-toddler starts to show signs that she’s interested. A spoon
should be first on the child’s tray since it’s easier to use.
Option A: By ages 3 to 4, the child begins to use a fork. She’ll have more success with a fork as her
fine motor skills get a little sharper, starting around 15 months.
 Option C: By the end of the preschool period, the child should be able to begin to use a knife for
cutting. The child can hold onto the helper’s hands as they cut the food using the knife and fork.
Option D: Preschoolers can pour their own drinks. Pouring is a great hand-eye exercise. It requires
self-control in the form of motor control. Autonomy is something children crave at this age, and this is
certainly an activity they can do on their own when appropriate parameters are set.

10. Correct Answer: B. Uses monosyllabic babbling.

Monosyllabic babbling occurs between 3 and 6 months of age. The infant starts to produce vowels and
combines them with consonants, producing syllables (e.g., ba, da, la, ga). An infant should be babbling away
by now, and those babbles might even be starting to sound like real words. Five-month-olds can begin to put
consonant and vowel sounds together.
Option A: Using simple words such as “mama” occurs between 9 and 12 months. While it can happen
as early as 10 months, by 12 months, most babies will use “mama” and “dada” correctly (she may say
“mama” as early as eight months, but she won’t be actually referring to her mother), plus one other
word. That third word can be what’s called a “word approximation.”
Option C: Linking syllables together when communicating occurs between 6 and 9 months. At 18
months, most toddlers use two-word combinations. Some toddlers may combine words as early as 15
months. Factors that affect when toddlers begin combining words include when they produce their
first word when they understand 50 words, and the responsiveness of caregivers at 12 months.
Option D: Cooing is the production of a single syllable, vowel-like sound like “aah”. It begins at birth
and continues until 2 months. It is considered the first vocal milestone of a baby.

11. Correct Answer: C. Crayons and coloring book

In the preschooler, play is simple and imaginative and includes activities such as crayons and coloring books,
puppets, felt and magnetic boards, and Play-Doh. They spend much of their playtime in fantasy activity, which
tends to be more cooperative than play that’s focused on toys or games.
Option A: Large picture books are most appropriate for the infant where they start to show interest
in seeing books with pictures. Regularly read books to the baby, pointing to the pictures when reading
and engaging her by changing voices for different characters. Invite the little one to participate by
encouraging her to laugh or act surprised by the story, touch the pictures, and turn the pages.
Option B: A radio is most appropriate for the adolescent. Analysis of teenage behavior during play
shows that their behavior mimics and practices being an adult, which is a positive for their
development. However, it is still important as a parent to hold a discussion with your child to set clear
boundaries e.g. controls on the internet and phones, so that they can grow and explore their identity
but still within a safe environment.
Option D: Sport is a great way of keeping an element of play in the life of a young adult, and if they
keep engaging in sport through their adolescence they will be more likely to be active throughout the
rest of adulthood.

12. Correct Answer: D. Allow the child to participate in activities with other individuals in the same age
group when the condition permits.
Adolescents often are not sure whether they want their parents with them when they are hospitalized.
Because of the importance of the peer group, separation from friends is a source of anxiety. Ideally, the
members of the peer group will support their ill friend.
Option A: Adolescents love computer games, however, peer groups and spending time with friends is
extremely important. Self-esteem is largely influenced by peer acceptance.
Option B: Having the parent’s room-in is more appropriate with a toddler or preschooler because
they have a fear of separation. Going to the hospital can be overwhelming, boring, and frustrating for
children. It’s normal for children to behave in some unexpected ways.
 Option C: Reading a book while in the hospital may be appropriate, but this can isolate the child from
the peer group. Set up ways for the child to keep in contact with family, friends, and schoolmates.
This can be done by asking people to visit, letting the child use email or social media to keep in touch,
or setting up video calls.

13. Correct Answer: A. Booster belt

A belt-positioning booster seat is typically used for children whose weight or height exceeds the forward-
facing limit for the car safety seat. This is applicable for ages 8-12-year-old and at least 4 feet, 9 inches tall.
Booster seats can only be used with the adult lap and shoulder belt.
Option B: Children can start using a seat belt if they can easily rest their back against the seat of the
vehicle and can bend their knees over the edge of the seat. Seatbelts must be worn correctly for them
to work properly. Make sure the lap belt fits comfortably across the thighs (not the stomach) and that
the child is not slouching. The shoulder strap should go across the chest and shoulder, and never goes
beneath a child’s arm, behind the back, or across the neck.
Option C: When children outgrow their rear-facing seat, they are buckled in a forward-facing car seat
until the age of five or when they reach the upper weight or height limit of the seat. Most convertible
car seats can be used in the rear-facing position until a child reaches the weight limit, typically 40 to
50 pounds. At that point, the seat can be converted into a forward-facing car seat. These seats are
larger and designed to stay installed in the vehicle.
Option D: Rear-facing–only seats are used for infants up to 22 to 45 pounds. All infants and toddlers
should ride in a rear-facing seat as long as possible until they reach the highest weight or height
allowed by their car safety seat manufacturer. Most convertible seats have limits that will allow
children to ride rear-facing for 2 years or more.

14. Correct Answer: A. Tell the friends to visit the child.

A 16-year-old child is in the stage of identity vs role confusion. The most significant persons in this group are
their peers. Peer groups and spending time with friends is extremely important. Self-esteem is largely
influenced by peer acceptance.
Option B: This is appropriate for children in the school-age where they need to feel productive.
Children at this age begin taking pride in their work and seek recognition for their accomplishments.
They are learning rules for social cooperation and appropriate behaviors.
Option C: The child is not dying and the situation did not even talk about the child’s belief therefore,
calling the priest is unnecessary. Adolescents enjoy watching movies and playing video games. Cell
phones and the internet are common means of keeping in touch with friends.
Option D: Allowing the patient’s girlfriend is applicable to an adolescent in the Erickson stage of
intimacy vs isolation. This stage takes place during young adulthood between the ages of
approximately 19 and 40.

15. Correct Answer: A, B, & E

At the latency stage, sexual drives are dormant. The stage begins around the time that children enter school
and become more concerned about school work, hobbies, and peer relationships. Children also usually engage
in activities with peers of the same sex, which serves to consolidate a child’s gender-role identity.
Option A: During this stage, the superego continues to develop while the id’s energies are
suppressed. Children develop social skills, values, and relationships with peers and adults outside of
the family.
Option B: The latent period is a time of exploration in which the sexual energy is repressed or
dormant. This energy is still present, but it is sublimated into other areas such as intellectual pursuits
and social interactions. This stage is important in the development of social and communication skills
and self-confidence.
 Option C: This refers to the genital stage where it begins in puberty. Adolescents develop mature
sexual feelings and experience pleasure from sexual relationships with others.
Option D: This refers to the phallic stage when children discover physical sexual differences. Children
develop an incestuous desire for the opposite-sex parent (Oedipus Complex).
Option E: The development of the ego and superego contribute to this period of calm. The stage
begins around the time that children enter into school and become more concerned with peer
relationships, hobbies, and other interests.

16. Correct Answer: B, D, & E

School-age children feel a greater sense of affiliation with peers of the same sex and prefer socializing with
them over family members; With a decreased attention span, play for school-age children lean towards
following rules designed by others such as board games and sports; With an increase in motor skills, and
independence, school-age children are prone to injuries that are caused by their physical activities.
Option A: School-age children start to have an understanding of death and often view it as someone
who “goes to heaven”. School-aged children have a more realistic understanding of death. Although
death may be personified as an angel, skeleton, or ghost, this age group is starting to view death as
permanent. They know that everyone dies.
Option B: A child’s social world expands considerably as they enter school and gain new friendships
with peers. Through social interactions, children begin to develop a sense of pride in their
accomplishments and abilities.
Option C: School-aged children are not particularly concerned about how they appear from others
but rather are more concerned with understanding social roles and responsibilities.
Option D: During the industry versus inferiority stage, children become capable of performing
increasingly complex tasks. As a result, they strive to master new skills. Children who are encouraged
and commended by parents and teachers develop a feeling of competence and belief in their abilities.
Option E: Children enjoy challenges and risks in play. This might be climbing trees or going fast on
bikes or scooters. When children take these types of risks, they’re building physical and problem-
solving skills. They’re also learning about their physical and emotional limits.

17. Correct Answer: C, D, & E

Allowing the child to bring familiar objects such as a favorite pillow or blanket to promote comfort; Letting the
child hold medical equipment will lessen the fear and stress from the toddler.
Option A: Parental stay in the hospital is encouraged instead to combat separation anxiety and the
fear of being abandoned. The parents should be present and participate in their toddler’s care as
much as possible.
Option B: A toddler should be told at least a day or two prior to a procedure. An announcement that
is too advanced would make the child more anxious. Toddlers have extremely short attention spans
— keep this in mind as you talk to your child about the hospital (give small pieces of information at a
time).
Option C: Allow your child to carry security objects to procedures (blanket, stuffed animal). Play in the
hospital makes the hospital environment less scary and more child-friendly. It also encourages
children to focus on activity, rather than on their illness.
Option D: Toddlers are building a sense of autonomy — encourage them to play and do things on
their own. Allowing them to hold an instrument like a thermometer may assure them that it would
not hurt them to have their temperature taken.
Option E: Toddlers like saying, “NO” — Give options between two things rather than yes or no
questions. Offer choices when appropriate. For instance, taking medications is not a choice, but
drinking the medicine through a cup or syringe is a choice your child can make on his/her own.
 18. Correct Answer: D. Ability to exhibit propositional thought.
This is achieved during the formal operational stage. Propositional thought is the ability of an individual to
evaluate the logic of prepositions without referring to real-world circumstances.
Option A: Piaget determined that children in the concrete operational stage were fairly good at the
use of inductive logic (inductive reasoning). During this stage, children begin to think logically about
concrete events. Their thinking becomes more logical and organized, but still very concrete.
Option B: Another key development at this stage is the understanding that when something changes
in shape or appearance it is still the same, a concept known as conservation. They begin to
understand the concept of conservation; that the amount of liquid in a short, wide cup is equal to
that in a tall, skinny glass, for example.
Option C: Children begin using inductive logic, or reasoning from specific information to a general
principle. This growing ability to mentally manipulate information and think about the thoughts of
others will play a critical role in the formal operational stage of development when logic and abstract
thought become critical.
Option E: All these things are evident during the concrete operational stage. While children are still
very concrete and literal in their thinking at this point in development, they become much more
adept at using logic.

19. Correct Answer: B. Preconventional Stage 1: Punishment/Obedience Orientation

Jane is in the pre-conventional level stage 1 where judgment is motivated by fear of punishment. Children in
this stage are responsive to rules that will affect their physical well-being. Stage 1 focuses on the child’s desire
to obey rules and avoid being punished. For example, an action is perceived as morally wrong because the
perpetrator is punished; the worse the punishment for the act is, the more “bad” the act is perceived to be.
Option A: This is the stage where proper behavior is driven by social approval. In stage 3, children
want the approval of others and act in ways to avoid disapproval. Emphasis is placed on good
behavior and people being “nice” to others.
Option C: This is the stage where obeying laws is one’s duty to society and a sign of respect for
authority. In stage 4, the child blindly accepts rules and conventions because of their importance in
maintaining a functioning society. Rules are seen as being the same for everyone, and obeying rules
by doing what one is “supposed” to do is seen as valuable and important.
Option D: This is the stage where a person bases heavily on obtaining a reward or exchanging favors.
Stage 2 expresses the “what’s in it for me?” position, in which right behavior is defined by whatever
the individual believes to be in their best interest. Stage two reasoning shows a limited interest in the
needs of others, only to the point where it might further the individual’s own interests.

20. Correct Answer: C. Sits alone

A six-month-old child begins to sit alone without support, rolls over in both directions (front to back and vice
versa), bounces when in a standing position, supports weight on legs, and rocks back and forth on hands and
knees. To get ready, babies first prop themselves up with their hands, but over time they can start to let go
and sit unsupported.
Option A: According to the Denver II Developmental Assessment milestone’s chart, infants can
usually begin to pull to a standing position between 8 to 10 months. Most younger infants are able to
stand up with support and bear some weight on their legs between 2 and 4 ½ months. This is an
expected and safe developmental stage that will progress to pulling up independently and won’t
cause them to have bow-legs.
Option B: Babies can start to use a spoon by themselves at around 10 to 12 months old. The child will
continue to get better at using tools like spoons and forks. Give the child a chance to use spoons and
forks—even if it is messy.
Option D: The child develops language skills between the ages of one and three. In order to
communicate, children must know how to use the words they are learning. In this stage of language
development, children are able to recognize the difference between nouns and verbs. Generally, the
first words in a child’s vocabulary are nouns.