NGN ATI Pediatrics Exam Prep 2026 |
Comprehensive Study Guide & Practice
Questions with Verified Answers | Next Gen
Pediatric Nursing Review PDF
NGN ATI PEDIATRICS EXAM PREP 2026
Comprehensive Study Guide & Practice Questions with Verified Answers
• This guide features 200 Next Generation NCLEX (NGN)-style pediatric nursing
practice questions with verified answers, detailed EXPERT RATIONALE, and full
topic coverage aligned to the 2026 ATI Pediatrics blueprint.
• Use this material by reading each question carefully, selecting your answer before
checking the correct option, then studying the EXPERT RATIONALE to reinforce
clinical reasoning and retention.
SECTION 1: GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT
1. A nurse is assessing a 9-month-old infant. Which developmental milestone
should the nurse expect to find?
A. Walking independently
B. Speaking 2-word phrases
C. Building a tower of 4 blocks
D. Sitting without support
E. Drawing a circle
Correct Answer: D. Sitting without support
EXPERT RATIONALE: By 9 months, infants should be able to sit without
support. Walking typically occurs around 12 months, 2-word phrases around 24
months, building a 4-block tower around 18 months, and drawing a circle around 3
years.
,2. A nurse is teaching a parent about expected growth for a 12-month-old.
Which statement by the parent indicates understanding?
A. "My child should weigh four times the birth weight."
B. "My child should have grown 6 inches since birth."
C. "My child's weight should be approximately triple the birth weight."
D. "My child should have 10 teeth by now."
E. "My child should be speaking in full sentences."
Correct Answer: C. "My child's weight should be approximately triple the
birth weight."
EXPERT RATIONALE: By 12 months, an infant's weight should be approximately
triple the birth weight. Birth weight doubles by 6 months and triples by 12 months.
Height increases by approximately 50% in the first year.
3. A nurse is assessing a 4-year-old child. Which behavior is consistent with
Erikson's stage of development for this age group?
A. Developing a sense of industry
B. Initiating play activities independently
C. Establishing a sense of identity
D. Demonstrating trust in caregivers for the first time
E. Developing autonomy by refusing all help
Correct Answer: B. Initiating play activities independently
EXPERT RATIONALE: A 4-year-old is in Erikson's Initiative vs. Guilt stage (ages 3–
6). Children in this stage initiate activities, show curiosity, and engage in imaginative
play. Industry vs. Inferiority applies to school-age children (6–12 years).
,4. A nurse is caring for a 2-year-old. Which behavior is expected for this
developmental stage?
A. Sharing toys willingly with peers
B. Playing alongside but not with other children
C. Engaging in cooperative group play
D. Understanding the concept of death
E. Demonstrating conservation of matter
Correct Answer: B. Playing alongside but not with other children
EXPERT RATIONALE: Parallel play (playing alongside but not interacting) is
characteristic of toddlers around age 2. Cooperative play develops in preschool-age
children. Sharing is not typically expected until age 3–4.
5. A nurse is teaching about Piaget's stages of cognitive development. Which
statement correctly describes a 7-year-old child?
A. The child is in the sensorimotor stage.
B. The child is in the formal operational stage.
C. The child is in the concrete operational stage.
D. The child is in the preoperational stage.
E. The child understands abstract reasoning fully.
Correct Answer: C. The child is in the concrete operational stage.
EXPERT RATIONALE: Piaget's concrete operational stage spans ages 7–11.
Children in this stage develop logical thinking about concrete events, understand
conservation, and classify objects. The preoperational stage covers ages 2–7 and
formal operational begins at approximately age 12.
, 6. The parent of a 15-month-old tells the nurse, "My child only says about 5
words. Is this normal?" What is the best response by the nurse?
A. "By 12 months, children typically say 1–3 words, and vocabulary grows
steadily. Five words at 15 months is within the expected range."
B. "Your child should be evaluated immediately for a speech disorder."
C. "Most 15-month-olds speak in full sentences."
D. "This is very concerning and suggests a hearing problem."
E. "Children do not speak until 2 years old, so this is too early to worry."
Correct Answer: A. "By 12 months, children typically say 1–3 words, and
vocabulary grows steadily. Five words at 15 months is within the expected
range."
EXPERT RATIONALE: At 12 months, infants typically say 1–3 words. By 15
months, saying approximately 5–10 words is within normal development. Concerns
would arise if the child had no words by 12 months or fewer than 6 words by 18
months.
7. A nurse is assessing a 5-year-old's fine motor skills. Which task should the
child be able to perform?
A. Tying shoelaces proficiently
B. Copying a triangle or square
C. Writing full sentences legibly
D. Using scissors with precision to cut complex shapes
E. Drawing detailed human figures with 12 or more body parts
Correct Answer: B. Copying a triangle or square
EXPERT RATIONALE: By age 5, children can copy geometric shapes like triangles
and squares. Tying shoelaces typically develops around age 6. Writing sentences
and cutting complex shapes are not expected at this age.
Comprehensive Study Guide & Practice
Questions with Verified Answers | Next Gen
Pediatric Nursing Review PDF
NGN ATI PEDIATRICS EXAM PREP 2026
Comprehensive Study Guide & Practice Questions with Verified Answers
• This guide features 200 Next Generation NCLEX (NGN)-style pediatric nursing
practice questions with verified answers, detailed EXPERT RATIONALE, and full
topic coverage aligned to the 2026 ATI Pediatrics blueprint.
• Use this material by reading each question carefully, selecting your answer before
checking the correct option, then studying the EXPERT RATIONALE to reinforce
clinical reasoning and retention.
SECTION 1: GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT
1. A nurse is assessing a 9-month-old infant. Which developmental milestone
should the nurse expect to find?
A. Walking independently
B. Speaking 2-word phrases
C. Building a tower of 4 blocks
D. Sitting without support
E. Drawing a circle
Correct Answer: D. Sitting without support
EXPERT RATIONALE: By 9 months, infants should be able to sit without
support. Walking typically occurs around 12 months, 2-word phrases around 24
months, building a 4-block tower around 18 months, and drawing a circle around 3
years.
,2. A nurse is teaching a parent about expected growth for a 12-month-old.
Which statement by the parent indicates understanding?
A. "My child should weigh four times the birth weight."
B. "My child should have grown 6 inches since birth."
C. "My child's weight should be approximately triple the birth weight."
D. "My child should have 10 teeth by now."
E. "My child should be speaking in full sentences."
Correct Answer: C. "My child's weight should be approximately triple the
birth weight."
EXPERT RATIONALE: By 12 months, an infant's weight should be approximately
triple the birth weight. Birth weight doubles by 6 months and triples by 12 months.
Height increases by approximately 50% in the first year.
3. A nurse is assessing a 4-year-old child. Which behavior is consistent with
Erikson's stage of development for this age group?
A. Developing a sense of industry
B. Initiating play activities independently
C. Establishing a sense of identity
D. Demonstrating trust in caregivers for the first time
E. Developing autonomy by refusing all help
Correct Answer: B. Initiating play activities independently
EXPERT RATIONALE: A 4-year-old is in Erikson's Initiative vs. Guilt stage (ages 3–
6). Children in this stage initiate activities, show curiosity, and engage in imaginative
play. Industry vs. Inferiority applies to school-age children (6–12 years).
,4. A nurse is caring for a 2-year-old. Which behavior is expected for this
developmental stage?
A. Sharing toys willingly with peers
B. Playing alongside but not with other children
C. Engaging in cooperative group play
D. Understanding the concept of death
E. Demonstrating conservation of matter
Correct Answer: B. Playing alongside but not with other children
EXPERT RATIONALE: Parallel play (playing alongside but not interacting) is
characteristic of toddlers around age 2. Cooperative play develops in preschool-age
children. Sharing is not typically expected until age 3–4.
5. A nurse is teaching about Piaget's stages of cognitive development. Which
statement correctly describes a 7-year-old child?
A. The child is in the sensorimotor stage.
B. The child is in the formal operational stage.
C. The child is in the concrete operational stage.
D. The child is in the preoperational stage.
E. The child understands abstract reasoning fully.
Correct Answer: C. The child is in the concrete operational stage.
EXPERT RATIONALE: Piaget's concrete operational stage spans ages 7–11.
Children in this stage develop logical thinking about concrete events, understand
conservation, and classify objects. The preoperational stage covers ages 2–7 and
formal operational begins at approximately age 12.
, 6. The parent of a 15-month-old tells the nurse, "My child only says about 5
words. Is this normal?" What is the best response by the nurse?
A. "By 12 months, children typically say 1–3 words, and vocabulary grows
steadily. Five words at 15 months is within the expected range."
B. "Your child should be evaluated immediately for a speech disorder."
C. "Most 15-month-olds speak in full sentences."
D. "This is very concerning and suggests a hearing problem."
E. "Children do not speak until 2 years old, so this is too early to worry."
Correct Answer: A. "By 12 months, children typically say 1–3 words, and
vocabulary grows steadily. Five words at 15 months is within the expected
range."
EXPERT RATIONALE: At 12 months, infants typically say 1–3 words. By 15
months, saying approximately 5–10 words is within normal development. Concerns
would arise if the child had no words by 12 months or fewer than 6 words by 18
months.
7. A nurse is assessing a 5-year-old's fine motor skills. Which task should the
child be able to perform?
A. Tying shoelaces proficiently
B. Copying a triangle or square
C. Writing full sentences legibly
D. Using scissors with precision to cut complex shapes
E. Drawing detailed human figures with 12 or more body parts
Correct Answer: B. Copying a triangle or square
EXPERT RATIONALE: By age 5, children can copy geometric shapes like triangles
and squares. Tying shoelaces typically develops around age 6. Writing sentences
and cutting complex shapes are not expected at this age.
