Chapter 33: The Preschooler and Family Perry: Maternal Child Nursing Care, 6th Edition

Which accomplishment would the nurse expect of a healthy 3-year-old child? a. Jump rope b. Ride a two-wheel bicycle c. Skip on alternate feet d. Balance on one foot for a few seconds ANS: D Three year olds are able to accomplish the gross motor skill of balancing on one foot. Jumping rope, riding a two-wheel bike, and skipping on alternate feet are gross motor skills of 5-year-old children. 2. In terms of fine motor development, what could the 3-year-old child be expected to do? a. Tie shoelaces b. Use scissors or a pencil very well c. Draw a person with 7 to 9 parts d. Copy (draw) a circle. ANS: D Three-year-olds are able to accomplish the fine motor skill of drawing a circle. Tying shoelaces, using scissors or a pencil very well, and drawing a person with multiple parts are fine motor skills of 5-year-old children. 00:31 02:03 3. In terms of cognitive development, the preschooler would be expected to engage in what behavior? a. Use magical thinking b. Think abstractly c. Understand conservation of matter d. Be able to comprehend another person's perspective ANS: A Preschoolers' thinking is often described as magical thinking. Because of their egocentrism and transductive reasoning, they believe that thoughts are all-powerful. Abstract thought does not develop until school-age years. The concept of conservation is the cognitive task of school-age children ages 5 to 7 years. Five year olds cannot understand another's perspective. 4. What is descriptive of the preschooler's understanding of time? a. Has no understanding of time b. Associates time with events c. Can tell time on a clock d. Uses terms like "yesterday" appropriately ANS: B In a preschooler's understanding, time has a relation with events such as, "We'll go outside after lunch." Preschoolers develop an abstract sense of time at age 3 years. Children can tell time on a clock at age 7 years. Children do not fully understand use of time-oriented words until age 6 years. 5. The nurse is caring for a hospitalized 4 year old. The parents tell the nurse that they will be back to visit at 6 PM. When the child asks the nurse, "when my parents are coming", what is the nurse's best response? a. "They will be here soon." b. "They will come after dinner." c. "Let me show you on the clock when 6 PM is." d. "I will tell you every time I see you how much longer it will be." ANS: B A 4 year old understands time in relation to events such as meals. Children perceive "soon" as a very short time. The nurse may lose the child's trust if his parents do not return in the time he perceives as "soon." Children cannot read or use a clock for practical purposes until age 7 years. This answer assumes that the child understands the concept of hours and minutes, which is not developed until age 5 or 6 years. 6. A 4 year old is hospitalized with a serious bacterial infection. The child tells the nurse that, "I am sick because I was bad." What is the nurse's best interpretation of this comment? a. It is a sign of stress. b. It is common at this age. c. It is suggestive of maladaptation. d. It is suggestive of excessive discipline at home. ANS: B Preschoolers cannot understand the cause and effect of illness. Their egocentrism makes them think that they are directly responsible for events, making them feel guilt for things outside of their control. Children of this age show stress by regressing developmentally or acting out. Maladaptation is unlikely. This comment does not imply excessive discipline at home. 7. In terms of language and cognitive development, which behavior is expected of a 4-year-old child? a. Thinking in abstract terms. b. Following simple commands. c. Understanding conservation of matter. d. Comprehending another person's perspective. ANS: B Children ages 3 to 4 years can give and follow simple commands. Children cannot think abstractly at age 4 years. Conservation of matter is a developmental task of the school-age child. A 4-year-old child cannot comprehend another's perspective. 8. Which type of play is most typical of the preschool period? a. Solitary b. Parallel c. Associative d. Team ANS: C Associative play is group play in similar or identical activities but without rigid organization or rules. Solitary play is that of infants. Parallel play is that of toddlers. School-age children play in teams. 9. Why are imaginary playmates beneficial to the preschool child? a. Take the place of social interactions. b. Take the place of pets and other toys. c. Become friends in times of loneliness. d. Accomplish what the child has already successfully accomplished. ANS: C One purpose of an imaginary friend is to be a friend in time of loneliness. Imaginary friends do not take the place of social interactions but may encourage conversation. Imaginary friends do not take the place of pets or toys. They accomplish what the child is still attempting, not what has already been accomplished. 10. Which characteristics best describes the language of a 3-year-old child? a. Asks meanings of words b. Follows directional commands c. Can describe an object according to its composition d. Talks incessantly, regardless of whether anyone is listening ANS: D Because of the dramatic vocabulary increase at this age, 3 year olds are known to talk incessantly, regardless of whether anyone is listening. A 4 to 5 year old asks lots of questions and can follow simple directional commands. A 6 year old can describe an object according to its composition. 11. By what age would the nurse expect that most children could understand prepositional phrases such as "under," "on top of," "beside," and "in back of"? a. 18 months b. 24 months c. 3 years d. 4 years ANS: D At 4 years, children can understand directional phrases. Children 18 to 24 months and 3 years of age are too young. 12. What skill that the nurse should expect a 5-year-old child to be able to master? a. Tie shoelaces. b. Use a knife to cut meat. c. Hammer a nail. d. Make change from a quarter. ANS: A Tying shoelaces is a fine motor task typical of 5 year olds. Using a knife to cut meat is a fine motor task of a 7 year old. Hammering a nail and making change from a quarter are fine motor tasks of an 8 to 9 year old.