Child Development Associate (CDA)
Exam Questions and Correct Answers
2025/2026 Complete Study Guide
1. You join the children at mealtime. As a caregiver, you should:
A. insist that children finish all food
B. not offer any dessert until all their food is finished
C. only offer dessert to the children who remained quiet at the table while eating
D. none of the above
Correct Answer: D. none of the above
Rationale: Developmentally appropriate practice respects a child's hunger and
fullness cues. Forcing children to finish food or withholding dessert can create
unhealthy eating habits and a negative association with mealtime.
2. You are arranging your classroom. As the teacher, you should:
A. keep the quiet and noisy activities together
B. put related activities near each other
C. provide a large open area in the center of the room
D. arrange the furniture along the walls
Correct Answer: B. put related activities near each other
Rationale: Grouping related activities (like art near a sink or blocks near dramatic
play) creates logical learning centers, supports smooth transitions, and helps
children make connections between their various modes of play.
3. The best example of an open-ended material would be:
A. an alphabet puzzle
,B. playdough and cookie cutters
C. a coloring books and crayons
D. unit blocks
Correct Answer: D. unit blocks
Rationale: Open-ended materials can be used in many ways depending on a child's
imagination. Unit blocks can become towers, roads, houses, or anything else a
child envisions, fostering creativity and problem-solving.
4. The first aid kit should be kept:
A. Out of reach of children
B. In an easily accessible location, clearly marked, and out of reach of children
C. In a restroom
D. In a drawer far from where the children will be playing
Correct Answer: B. In an easily accessible location, clearly marked, and out of
reach of children
Rationale: In an emergency, adults need quick access to the first aid kit, but it must
be completely inaccessible to children. A clearly marked, visible location ensures
everyone knows where it is.
5. Frequent hand washing is important because:
A. children need to keep hands clean
B. it keeps germs from spreading
C. it is a positive social skill
D. it is a law
Correct Answer: B. it keeps germs from spreading
Rationale: While hand washing has multiple benefits, the primary reason for its
frequency in early childhood settings is infection control and preventing the spread
of illnesses among children and staff.
,6. Gross motor skills refer to skills that:
A. require children to make large movements with their bodies
B. require children to participate in messy activities
C. require children to use scissors or eyedroppers
D. none of the above
Correct Answer: A. require children to make large movements with their
bodies
Rationale: Gross motor skills involve the large muscles of the body and whole-
body movements like running, jumping, climbing, and balancing.
7. Of the following, which would be the healthiest snack for young children?
A. Candy bars
B. Sliced apples and low-fat milk
C. Potato chips and soda
D. Cookies and fruit punch
Correct Answer: B. Sliced apples and low-fat milk
Rationale: This snack provides essential nutrients like fiber, vitamins, and calcium.
It is low in added sugars and unhealthy fats, supporting children's health and
development.
8. What does CDA stand for?
A. Child Development Administrator
B. Child Development Associate
C. Certified Development Assistant
D. Childhood Development Aide
Correct Answer: B. Child Development Associate
Rationale: The CDA is the Child Development Associate credential, a nationally
recognized certification for early childhood educators.
, 9. In public buildings and early learning centers, evacuation and emergency
exit procedures should be posted:
A. In written form only
B. In pictorial form only
C. In both pictorial and written form and posted near entrances and exits of each
room
D. In a locked filing cabinet
Correct Answer: C. In both pictorial and written form and posted near
entrances and exits of each room
Rationale: To ensure everyone, including non-readers and those with different
language backgrounds, can understand emergency procedures, they must be
displayed in both written words and simple pictures. They must be easily visible
near exits.
10. The ratio of adults needed by licensing regulation to supervise a group of
children is determined by:
A. the number of boys in the group
B. the age of the youngest child
C. the time of day
D. the teacher's experience
Correct Answer: B. the age of the youngest child
Rationale: Child-to-staff ratios are legally mandated and vary based on the age of
the children. Younger children require more supervision, hence a lower ratio.
11. Providing children with their own space in the classroom to store their
coats and other personal belongings:
A. promotes positive self-image
B. is a licensing requirement
C. reduces classroom mess
D. makes it easier for teachers
Exam Questions and Correct Answers
2025/2026 Complete Study Guide
1. You join the children at mealtime. As a caregiver, you should:
A. insist that children finish all food
B. not offer any dessert until all their food is finished
C. only offer dessert to the children who remained quiet at the table while eating
D. none of the above
Correct Answer: D. none of the above
Rationale: Developmentally appropriate practice respects a child's hunger and
fullness cues. Forcing children to finish food or withholding dessert can create
unhealthy eating habits and a negative association with mealtime.
2. You are arranging your classroom. As the teacher, you should:
A. keep the quiet and noisy activities together
B. put related activities near each other
C. provide a large open area in the center of the room
D. arrange the furniture along the walls
Correct Answer: B. put related activities near each other
Rationale: Grouping related activities (like art near a sink or blocks near dramatic
play) creates logical learning centers, supports smooth transitions, and helps
children make connections between their various modes of play.
3. The best example of an open-ended material would be:
A. an alphabet puzzle
,B. playdough and cookie cutters
C. a coloring books and crayons
D. unit blocks
Correct Answer: D. unit blocks
Rationale: Open-ended materials can be used in many ways depending on a child's
imagination. Unit blocks can become towers, roads, houses, or anything else a
child envisions, fostering creativity and problem-solving.
4. The first aid kit should be kept:
A. Out of reach of children
B. In an easily accessible location, clearly marked, and out of reach of children
C. In a restroom
D. In a drawer far from where the children will be playing
Correct Answer: B. In an easily accessible location, clearly marked, and out of
reach of children
Rationale: In an emergency, adults need quick access to the first aid kit, but it must
be completely inaccessible to children. A clearly marked, visible location ensures
everyone knows where it is.
5. Frequent hand washing is important because:
A. children need to keep hands clean
B. it keeps germs from spreading
C. it is a positive social skill
D. it is a law
Correct Answer: B. it keeps germs from spreading
Rationale: While hand washing has multiple benefits, the primary reason for its
frequency in early childhood settings is infection control and preventing the spread
of illnesses among children and staff.
,6. Gross motor skills refer to skills that:
A. require children to make large movements with their bodies
B. require children to participate in messy activities
C. require children to use scissors or eyedroppers
D. none of the above
Correct Answer: A. require children to make large movements with their
bodies
Rationale: Gross motor skills involve the large muscles of the body and whole-
body movements like running, jumping, climbing, and balancing.
7. Of the following, which would be the healthiest snack for young children?
A. Candy bars
B. Sliced apples and low-fat milk
C. Potato chips and soda
D. Cookies and fruit punch
Correct Answer: B. Sliced apples and low-fat milk
Rationale: This snack provides essential nutrients like fiber, vitamins, and calcium.
It is low in added sugars and unhealthy fats, supporting children's health and
development.
8. What does CDA stand for?
A. Child Development Administrator
B. Child Development Associate
C. Certified Development Assistant
D. Childhood Development Aide
Correct Answer: B. Child Development Associate
Rationale: The CDA is the Child Development Associate credential, a nationally
recognized certification for early childhood educators.
, 9. In public buildings and early learning centers, evacuation and emergency
exit procedures should be posted:
A. In written form only
B. In pictorial form only
C. In both pictorial and written form and posted near entrances and exits of each
room
D. In a locked filing cabinet
Correct Answer: C. In both pictorial and written form and posted near
entrances and exits of each room
Rationale: To ensure everyone, including non-readers and those with different
language backgrounds, can understand emergency procedures, they must be
displayed in both written words and simple pictures. They must be easily visible
near exits.
10. The ratio of adults needed by licensing regulation to supervise a group of
children is determined by:
A. the number of boys in the group
B. the age of the youngest child
C. the time of day
D. the teacher's experience
Correct Answer: B. the age of the youngest child
Rationale: Child-to-staff ratios are legally mandated and vary based on the age of
the children. Younger children require more supervision, hence a lower ratio.
11. Providing children with their own space in the classroom to store their
coats and other personal belongings:
A. promotes positive self-image
B. is a licensing requirement
C. reduces classroom mess
D. makes it easier for teachers
