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Quizzes > Health & Medicine

Growth and Development NCLEX Questions

Quick, free NCLEX growth and development quiz. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Muhammad Fikri HaikalUpdated Aug 24, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
paper art illustration for growth and development quiz showing child milestones and nursing icons on dark blue background

This quiz helps you review growth and development for the NCLEX and check key milestones across infancy through adolescence. Use it to spot weak areas, then deepen your basics with our human development quiz and sharpen bedside skills with a nursing health assessment quiz. Studying maternity content too? Practice with labor and delivery nclex.

At what age do infants typically begin to lift their head when placed in prone position?
Approximately 1 month
Approximately 4 months
Approximately 6 months
Approximately 2 months
Infants develop head control around 2 months, allowing them to lift their head briefly when prone. This milestone is part of early gross motor development. Delayed head control beyond 4 months may require further evaluation.
At what age do infants typically begin babbling?
1 month
6 months
4 months
9 months
Babbling usually begins around 4 months of age as part of early language development. It represents vowel-consonant combinations like "ba-ba." By 6 months, babbling becomes more complex and varied.
Piaget's sensorimotor stage spans which age range?
Birth to 2 years
7 to 11 years
2 to 7 years
11 years and older
Jean Piaget defined the sensorimotor stage as birth to 2 years, when infants learn through sensory experiences and motor actions. Object permanence emerges during this stage. Subsequent stages (preoperational, concrete, formal) follow after age 2.
Erikson's first stage, Trust vs. Mistrust, occurs during which period?
Birth to 1 year
6 to 12 years
1 to 3 years
3 to 6 years
Erikson's Trust vs. Mistrust stage spans from birth to 1 year of age. Successful resolution leads to a sense of security when caregivers meet basic needs. Failure can result in apprehension and suspicion.
At what age do most infants begin to walk independently?
15 months
12 months
18 months
9 months
Independent walking typically emerges around 12 months of age. Some infants may walk earlier or later within a normal range (9 - 15 months). Persistent delay beyond 18 months warrants evaluation.
When do infants typically develop a pincer grasp?
12 months
9 months
6 months
4 months
The pincer grasp, using thumb and forefinger to pick up small objects, usually appears around 9 months. This fine motor milestone indicates maturation of hand-eye coordination. Delay beyond 12 months may need further assessment.
At approximately what age do infants develop object permanence?
18 months
8 months
4 months
12 months
Object permanence typically develops by 8 months of age, indicating the infant understands that objects continue to exist when out of sight. This is a key achievement in Piaget's sensorimotor stage. Failure to demonstrate this by 12 months suggests delay.
Which gross motor skill is expected by 4 months of age?
Roll prone to supine
Crawl
Sit unsupported
Stand with support
By 4 months, infants generally roll from prone to supine as their neck and trunk muscles strengthen. Sitting unsupported typically appears by 6 months, while crawling emerges around 8 months.
Stranger anxiety most commonly peaks at what age?
9 - 10 months
6 - 8 months
3 - 4 months
12 - 14 months
Stranger anxiety peaks between 6 and 8 months when infants recognize familiar vs. unfamiliar faces. This developmental behavior reflects attachment and cognitive growth. Anxiety typically lessens as language develops.
Piaget's preoperational stage encompasses which ages?
Birth to 2 years
2 to 7 years
11 years and older
7 to 11 years
The preoperational stage spans ages 2 to 7 years. Children begin symbolic play and learn to manipulate symbols but lack logical reasoning. Egocentrism is prominent in this stage.
Which Erikson stage is characteristic of children aged 3 to 6 years?
Trust vs. Mistrust
Autonomy vs. Shame
Industry vs. Inferiority
Initiative vs. Guilt
Erikson's Initiative vs. Guilt stage occurs between ages 3 and 6. Children assert power through play and social interaction. Success leads to purpose, while failure results in guilt.
Industry vs. Inferiority, according to Erikson, corresponds to which age group?
6 to 12 years
12 to 18 years
3 to 6 years
18 to 40 years
The Industry vs. Inferiority stage includes children aged 6 to 12 years. They develop competence through academic and social tasks. Success fosters self-confidence; failure leads to feelings of inferiority.
Which Erikson stage is associated with adolescence (12 to 18 years)?
Integrity vs. Despair
Identity vs. Role Confusion
Intimacy vs. Isolation
Generativity vs. Stagnation
Erikson's Identity vs. Role Confusion stage occurs from 12 to 18 years, when adolescents explore personal identity and sense of self. Successful resolution leads to fidelity, while failure results in confusion about future roles.
By what age does the Moro reflex typically disappear?
9 to 10 months
6 to 7 months
3 to 4 months
1 month
The Moro reflex disappears by 3 to 4 months as the infant's central nervous system matures. Persistence beyond this age may indicate neurological issues. It's one of the primitive reflexes monitored in infants.
At what age does separation anxiety typically begin?
2 months
8 months
12 months
4 months
Separation anxiety usually begins around 8 months when infants recognize caregivers and fear being apart. It peaks between 10 and 18 months. This is a normal stage of attachment.
When do most toddlers typically use two-word phrases?
18 to 24 months
36 to 48 months
30 to 36 months
12 months
Toddlers begin using two-word phrases around 18 to 24 months as part of language explosion. This stage demonstrates combining vocabulary for basic communication. Delays beyond 2 years may require speech evaluation.
At what age do children usually begin scribbling spontaneously?
30 to 36 months
12 to 18 months
18 to 24 months
24 to 30 months
Spontaneous scribbling begins around 12 to 18 months as toddlers develop fine motor skills. This activity is a precursor to purposeful drawing. Proper grasp develops later.
During which stage do children typically engage in parallel play?
0 to 2 years
4 to 5 years
2 to 3 years
3 to 4 years
Parallel play occurs around 2 to 3 years when toddlers play side by side without direct interaction. This behavior reflects emerging social awareness. Cooperative play begins later.
At what age do children typically copy a circle when drawing?
3 years
2 years
5 years
4 years
Children learn to copy a circle around age 3, indicating development of fine motor and visual-motor integration. At age 2 they scribble, and by age 4 they draw simple shapes.
By what age do most children have a full set of 20 deciduous teeth?
36 months
12 months
24 to 30 months
18 months
Children usually have 20 primary teeth by 24 to 30 months. Teeth eruption follows a predictable sequence beginning around 6 months. Delays may warrant dental evaluation.
When does the anterior fontanel typically close?
12 to 18 months
2 to 4 months
24 to 30 months
6 to 8 months
The anterior fontanel usually closes by 12 to 18 months. Early closure may signal craniosynostosis, while delayed closure beyond 18 months requires evaluation. Posterior fontanel closes earlier around 2 months.
At what age do children typically speak three- to four-word sentences?
36 to 42 months
24 to 30 months
18 months
48 to 54 months
By 24 to 30 months, children often speak three- to four-word sentences during rapid language development. They expand vocabulary and grammar rules. Delays beyond 3 years require speech evaluation.
When can most children jump off a step with both feet?
3 years
2.5 years
2 years
18 months
Children typically jump off a step with both feet around 2.5 years, showing coordination and balance. Earlier attempts may be awkward. Mastery improves by age 3.
During which stage do children typically engage in cooperative play?
2 to 3 years
4 to 5 years
3 to 4 years
5 to 6 years
Cooperative play emerges around 3 to 4 years when children play together with shared goals and roles. This illustrates social development and empathy growth. Parallel play precedes this stage.
At what age do most girls begin thelarche (breast development)?
8 to 13 years
14 to 15 years
6 to 7 years
16 to 17 years
Thelarche typically begins between ages 8 and 13 as the first sign of puberty in girls. Early or late onset outside this range may warrant endocrine evaluation.
When does the peak height velocity occur in girls during adolescence?
Immediately after menarche
Before menarche
Around 16 years
Around 18 years
Girls reach peak height velocity about 6 to 12 months before menarche, typically between ages 11 and 13. Growth slows considerably after this period.
Which Tanner stage in boys is characterized by enlargement of testes and scrotum without pubic hair?
Stage III
Stage IV
Stage I
Stage II
Tanner Stage II in boys features enlargement of testes and scrotum with reddening and thinning of scrotal skin, without obvious pubic hair. Pubic hair appears later in this stage.
Adolescent egocentrism includes which phenomenon?
Magical thinking
Imaginary audience
Object permanence
Conservation
Imaginary audience is a characteristic of adolescent egocentrism where teens believe others are constantly observing them. It reflects heightened self-consciousness during formal operations stage.
Which process describes fitting new information into existing schemas?
Accommodation
Conservation
Equilibration
Assimilation
Assimilation is integrating new experiences into existing cognitive schemas. Accommodation involves modifying schemas to incorporate new information. These processes drive cognitive development.
What is Vygotsky's Zone of Proximal Development?
Tasks a child can do alone
Tasks a child can do with guidance
Tasks beyond a child's capability
Tasks a child cannot do even with help
The Zone of Proximal Development refers to tasks a child can complete with guidance but not alone, highlighting the role of social interaction in learning. Instruction within this zone maximizes developmental progress.
By what age should a child's birth length double?
12 months
3 months
6 months
9 months
An infant's birth length typically doubles by 6 months of age due to rapid early growth. By 12 months, length increases by 50% more. Delay suggests nutritional or endocrine issues.
What is the most reliable sign of readiness for toilet training?
Interest in adult bathroom habits
Remaining dry for 2 hours
Sitting independently
Desire to wear underwear
Being dry for at least two hours indicates sufficient bladder control and readiness for toilet training. Other signs include awareness of a wet diaper and ability to follow simple instructions.
Which milestone indicates the development of object constancy?
Understanding an object is the same despite appearance changes
Separation anxiety peaks
Object permanence first appears
Ability to imitate actions
Object constancy is recognizing that an object remains the same despite changes in appearance or location. This develops after object permanence and involves more sophisticated cognitive processing.
When does lanugo typically disappear from a newborn?
By 3 months
By 1 month
Within 1 week
At birth
Lanugo, the fine hair covering the fetus, typically sheds within the first week of life. Persistent lanugo beyond this may indicate endocrine issues. It is replaced by vellus hair.
At what age do permanent first molars usually erupt?
7 to 8 years
9 to 10 years
5 to 6 years
8 to 9 years
Permanent first molars erupt around 5 to 6 years, often called the "6-year molar." Their emergence is key for dental arch development.
Formal operational thought, per Piaget, emerges at what stage?
Sensorimotor
Preoperational
Concrete operational
Formal operational
The formal operational stage begins around 11 to 12 years, featuring abstract reasoning and hypothetical thinking. Adolescents can perform logical operations on abstract concepts.
Which task illustrates conservation in Piaget's concrete operational stage?
Banging objects to hear sound
Understanding volume is same when poured into different containers
Using symbols to represent objects
Pretend play
Conservation is the understanding that certain properties remain constant despite changes in form or appearance, e.g., liquid volume in different shaped glasses. It emerges during the concrete operational stage (7 - 11 years).
Which standardized assessment tool evaluates cognitive, motor, and language development in infants up to 42 months?
Bayley Scales of Infant Development
Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale
Ages and Stages Questionnaire
Denver Developmental Screening Test
The Bayley Scales assess cognitive, motor, and language domains from 1 to 42 months of age. It's an in-depth tool used in clinical and research settings. Early identification of delays guides intervention planning.
Which Erikson stage is associated with young adulthood and involves forming intimate relationships?
Integrity vs. Despair
Intimacy vs. Isolation
Identity vs. Role Confusion
Generativity vs. Stagnation
Erikson's Intimacy vs. Isolation stage occurs in young adulthood (approximately 18 to 40 years), focusing on forming close relationships versus feeling isolated. Successful resolution leads to strong bonds, while failure results in loneliness.
What sequence initiates puberty in boys hormonally?
Testosterone rise, LH/FSH secretion, adrenal androgens
Adrenal androgen surge, LH/FSH secretion, testosterone rise
GnRH pulsatility, LH/FSH secretion, testicular testosterone rise
FSH secretion, GnRH pulsatility, testosterone rise
Puberty in boys begins with increased pulsatile GnRH from the hypothalamus, stimulating LH/FSH release from the pituitary, which drives testicular testosterone production. Adrenal androgens contribute later to pubic hair.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify key developmental milestones -

    Recognize age-specific growth and development markers from infancy to adolescence to answer growth and development NCLEX questions accurately.

  2. Apply pediatric nursing principles -

    Use foundational nursing concepts to assess and support normal developmental progress during the NCLEX growth and development quiz scenarios.

  3. Analyze clinical case scenarios -

    Interpret patient data and developmental observations to determine appropriate nursing interventions for pediatric clients.

  4. Recall normal developmental ranges -

    Memorize expected milestones in motor, language, and social-emotional domains to improve accuracy in pediatric growth and development NCLEX questions.

  5. Evaluate nursing interventions -

    Critically assess patient responses and tailor care plans to address deviations from typical growth patterns in the NCLEX developmental milestones quiz.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Infant Weight and Height Doubling/Tripling Rule -

    By 5 months, an infant's birth weight typically doubles; by 12 months it triples, and length increases by about 50%. Use the simple mnemonic "Double at 5, Triple at 12" to lock in these numbers. This guideline often shows up in growth and development NCLEX questions when you're evaluating pediatric growth charts.

  2. Gross Motor Milestones (2-4-6-9-12 Rule) -

    Infants generally lift their head by 2 months, roll over by 4 months, sit unsupported at 6 months, crawl by 9 months, and walk around 12 months. Remember "2-4-6-9-12 GROW" to sequence these key steps in gross motor development. Mastering this rule helps you breeze through pediatric growth and development NCLEX questions.

  3. Language Development Sequence -

    Babies coo by 2 months, babble by 6 months, say "mama/dada" non-specifically at 9 months, and speak their first words by 12 months. The phrase "Coo-Bab-Mama-Word" acts as a quick recall tool for these stages. Language milestones are a staple in pediatric growth and development NCLEX questions.

  4. Piaget's Stages of Cognitive Development -

    Jean Piaget's four stages - Sensorimotor (0 - 2 years), Preoperational (2 - 7 years), Concrete Operational (7 - 11 years), and Formal Operational (11+ years) - outline how thinking evolves. Use the mnemonic "Some People Can Fly" to remember the sequence. Understanding these stages is crucial for answering growth and development NCLEX questions on cognitive milestones.

  5. Erikson's Psychosocial Development Stages -

    Erikson's theory spans Trust vs. Mistrust (infancy) to Identity vs. Role Confusion (adolescence), with eight total stages highlighting social and emotional growth. A handy memory aid is "Trust And Initiative Industry Identity," capturing the first four major conflicts. These stages frequently appear in pediatric growth and development NCLEX questions focused on psychosocial assessment.

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