Growth & Development: School Age Child

After teaching the parents of a 9-year-old girl about safety, which statement indicates the need for additional teaching? A) "She can ride in the front seat of the car once she is 10 years old." B) "We need to buy her a helmet so she can ride her scooter." C) "She should ride her bike with the traffic on the side of the road." D) "We signed her up for swim lesions at the local community center."

A) "She can ride in the front seat of the car once she is 10 years old."

The school nurse providing school health screenings knows that the 7 to 11-year-old is in Piaget's stage of concrete operational thoughts. Which of the following should this age group accomplish when developing operations? Select all answers that apply. A) Ability to assimilate and coordinate information about the world from different dimensions B) Ability to see things from another person's point of view and think through an action C) Ability to use stored memories of past experiences to evaluate and interpret present situations D) Ability to think about a problem from all points of view, ranking the possible solutions while solving the problem E) Ability to think outside of the present and incorporate into thinking concepts that do exist as well as concepts that might exist F) Ability to understand the principle of conservation—that matter does not change when its form changes

A) Ability to assimilate and coordinate information about the world from different dimensions B) Ability to see things from another person's point of view and think through an action C) Ability to use stored memories of past experiences to evaluate and interpret present situations F) Ability to understand the principle of conservation—that matter does not change when its form changes

The nurse is performing an annual check-up for an 8-year-old child. Compared to the previous assessment of this child, which of the following characteristics would most likely be observed? A) Breathing is diaphragmatic. B) Pulse rate is increased. C) Secondary sex characteristics are present. D) Blood pressure has reached adult level.

A) Breathing is diaphragmatic.

The nurse is caring for a 7-year-old girl who is scheduled for a hernia repair and is very scared. Which of the following fears would she also most likely have at this age? A) Fear of being kidnapped B) Fear of cutting her finger C) Fear of sudden loud noises D) Fear of the neighbor's dog

A) Fear of being kidnapped

The mother of a 7-year-old girl tells the school nurse that her child is deathly afraid of going to school. What would be the best intervention the nurse could suggest in this situation? A) Return the child to school and investigate the cause of the fear. B) Have the child stay home from school until any issues causing this fear are resolved. C) Investigate a new school for the child to attend that the child will not be afraid of. D) Tell the child that privileges will be taken away if she does not return to school.

A) Return the child to school and investigate the cause of the fear.

A mother brings her 6-year-old son in for a check-up because the child is complaining of stomachaches. It is the beginning of the school year. Which of the following might the mother also mention? A) The child cries before going to school. B) The child made friends the first day of school. C) The child fights with siblings more often. D) The child loves the crowds in the lunchroom.

A) The child cries before going to school.

The nurse knows that the school-age child is in Erikson's stage of industry versus inferiority. Which of the following is the best example of a school-ager working toward accomplishing this developmental task? A) The child signs up for after-school activities. B) The child performs his bedtime preparations autonomously. C) The child becomes aware of the opposite sex. D) The child is developing a conscience.

A) The child signs up for after-school activities.

The nurse explains to parents of school-age children that according to Kohlberg's theory of moral development, their child is at the conventional stage of moral development. What is the motivation for school-age children to follow rules? A) They follow rules out of a sense of being a "good person." B) They follow rules out of fear of being punished. C) They follow rules in order to receive praise from caretakers. D) They follow rules because it is in their nature to do so.

A) They follow rules out of a sense of being a "good person."

The school nurse is conducting vision screening for a 7-year-old girl and documents the condition "amblyopia." What would the nurse tell the parents about this condition? A) "Amblyopia is an uncorrected refractive error of the eye." B) "Amblyopia is reduced vision in an eye that has not been adequately used during early development." C) "Amblyopia is a malalignment of the eye, which occurs at birth." D) "Amblyopia is a clouding of the lens of the eye caused by trauma to the eye."

B) "Amblyopia is reduced vision in an eye that has not been adequately used during early development."

The parents of an 11-year-old child ask the nurse for suggestions to promote good nutrition for their child. Which response by the nurse would be most appropriate? A) "Be sure to limit protein to one meal every day." B) "Use whole-grain or enriched breads and cereals." C) "Have eggs on the average of once a week." D) "Eat dark green leafy vegetables about twice a week."

B) "Use whole-grain or enriched breads and cereals."

The nurse is performing a physical assessment of a 10-year-old boy. The nurse notes that during last year's check-up the child weighed 80 pounds. According to average growth for this age group, what would be his expected current weight? A) 83 pounds B) 85 pounds C) 87 pounds D) 89 pounds

B) 85 pounds

Which of the following would the nurse most likely find in a 10-year-old child in the period of concrete operational thought? A) Participation in abstract thinking B) Ability to classify similar objects C) Problem solving via the scientific method D) Ability to make independent decisions

B) Ability to classify similar objects

The nurse is teaching the parents of a 9-year-old girl about the socialization that is occurring in their child through school contacts. Which of the following information would the nurse include in her teaching plan? A) Teachers are the most influential people in the development of the school-age child's social network. B) Continuous peer relationships provide the most important social interaction for school-age children. C) Parents should establish norms and standards that signify acceptance or rejection. D) A characteristic of school-age children is their formation of groups with no rules and values involved.

B) Continuous peer relationships provide the most important social interaction for school-age children.

The nurse is talking with a chatty 7-year-old girl during her regular check-up. Which of the following behaviors would the child also be expected to exhibit? A) Showing no interest in what the nurse sees in her ears B) Explaining what is right and what is wrong C) Demonstrating independence from her mother D) Showing no concern when the nurse hurts her own finger

B) Explaining what is right and what is wrong

When providing anticipatory guidance to a group of parents with school-aged children, which of the following would the nurse describe as the most important aspect of social interaction? A) School B) Peer relationships C) Family D) Temperament

B) Peer relationships

The pediatric nurse is aware of the maturation of organ systems in the school-age child. Which of the following accurately describe these changes? Select all answers that apply. A) The brain grows very slowly during the school-age years and growth is complete by the time the child is 12 years of age. B) Respiratory rates decrease, abdominal breathing disappears, and respirations become diaphragmatic in nature. C) The school-age child's blood pressure increases and the pulse rate decreases, and the heart grows more slowly during the middle years. D) The school-age child experiences more gastrointestinal upsets compared with earlier years since the stomach capacity increases. E) Bladder capacity increases, but varies among individual children, and girls generally have a greater bladder capacity than boys. F) Prepubescence typically occurs in the 2 years before the beginning of puberty and is characterized by the development of secondary sexual characteristics.

B) Respiratory rates decrease, abdominal breathing disappears, and respirations become diaphragmatic in nature. C) The school-age child's blood pressure increases and the pulse rate decreases, and the heart grows more slowly during the middle years. E) Bladder capacity increases, but varies among individual children, and girls generally have a greater bladder capacity than boys. F) Prepubescence typically occurs in the 2 years before the beginning of puberty and is characterized by the development of secondary sexual characteristics.

The nurse is providing anticipatory guidance for parents of a school-age child on teaching the dangers of drugs and alcohol. Which of the following advice might be helpful for these parents? A) School-age children are not ready to absorb information that deals with drugs and alcohol. B) School-age children can think critically to interpret messages seen in advertising, media, and sports. C) Parents must prevent their child from being exposed to messages that are in conflict with their values. D) Discussions with children need to be based on facts and focused on the past and future.

B) School-age children can think critically to interpret messages seen in advertising, media, and sports.

The nurse is performing a physical examination of an 11-year-old girl. Which of the following observations would be expected? A) The child has not gained weight since last year. B) The child has grown 3 inches since last year. C) The child breathes abdominally. D) The child's third molars are about to erupt.

B) The child has grown 3 inches since last year.

The nurse is assessing the gross motor skills of an 8-year-old boy. Which of the following interview questions would facilitate this assessment? A) "Do you like to do puzzles?" B) "Do play any instruments?" C) "Do you participate in any sports?" D) "Do you like to construct models?"

C) "Do you participate in any sports?"

The nurse is using the formula for bladder capacity to measure the bladder capacity of a 9-year-old girl. What number would the nurse document for this measurement? A) 9 ounces B) 10 ounces C) 11 ounces D) 12 ounces

C) 11 ounces

The nurse is counseling the parents of a 10-year-old child who was caught stealing at school. Which of the following topics should the nurse cover? A) Having the child return the property in front of his or her class B) Discussing ways for the child to save face C) Finding out what is currently going on at home D) Reminding the child daily that stealing is wrong

C) Finding out what is currently going on at home

The nurse has determined that an 8-year-old girl is at risk for being overweight. Which of the following interventions would be a priority prior to developing the care plan? A) Determining the need for additional caloric intake B) Asking the parents who they want to work with the child C) Interviewing the parents about their eating habits D) Discussing the influence of peers on the child's diet

C) Interviewing the parents about their eating habits

The nurse is teaching parents to plan nutritional meals for their son who is overweight. Which of the following guidelines might the nurse include in the teaching plan? A) School-age children with an average body weight of 20 to 35 kg need approximately 90 calories per kilogram daily. B) The average water requirement for a school-age child per 24 hours ranges from 2,000 to 2,500 mL per day. C) The school-age child needs 28 g of protein and 800 mg of calcium for maintenance of growth and good nutrition. D) In the school-age child, calories needed to sustain weight increase, while the appetite decreases.

C) The school-age child needs 28 g of protein and 800 mg of calcium for maintenance of growth and good nutrition.

During a well-child check-up, the parents of a 9-year-old boy tell the nurse that their son's friends told him that soccer is a stupid game, and now he wants to play baseball. Which comment by the nurse best explains the effects of peer groups? A) "The child's best friends will continue playing soccer." B) "The children will cheer for each other regardless of the sport being played." C) "Your child will rarely talk to you about his friends." D) "Acceptance by friends, especially of the same sex, is very important at this age."

D) "Acceptance by friends, especially of the same sex, is very important at this age."

The school nurse is teaching parents about the effects of bullying on school children. Which of the following accurately describes this developmental concern? A) Children who bully are those who report themselves as being lonely and having difficulty in forming friendships. B) Children who are bullied are reported to have low self-esteem, poor grades, and poor interpersonal skills. C) In general, about 20% of all children attending school are frightened and afraid most of the day. D) Both boys and girls are bullied; boys usually bully boys and use force more often.

D) Both boys and girls are bullied; boys usually bully boys and use force more often.

The school nurse is preparing a talk on the influence of the media on school-age children to present at the next PTO meeting. Which of the following facts might the nurse include in the introduction? A) Children in the United States spend about 6 hours a day either watching TV or playing video games. B) A child will see 2,000 murders by the end of grade school and 20,000 commercials a year. C) A school-age child cannot determine what is real from what is fantasy; therefore, TV and video games can lead to aggressive behavior. D) Parents should limit television watching and video-game playing to 2 hours per day.

D) Parents should limit television watching and video-game playing to 2 hours per day.

Two working parents are discussing with the school nurse the possibility of their 12-year-old girl going home alone after school. Which of the following suggestions should the nurse make? A) Provide entertainment until the parents come home. B) Allow the child to go to a friend's house. C) Teach her how to take a message if someone calls. D) Purchase caller ID for the phone.

D) Purchase caller ID for the phone.

The nurse is preparing a presentation for a local parent-teacher organization about the growth and development of school-age children. Which of the following would the nurse include? A) Boys mature much more quickly than girls of the same age during this time. B) From 6 to 12 years of age, children grow an average of 4 inches per year. C) The child's body size is in direct correlation with his or her maturity level. D) Secondary sex characteristics are often embarrassing for both sexes.

D) Secondary sex characteristics are often embarrassing for both sexes.

The parents of an 8-year-old boy are interested in promoting learning through reading to their son. Which of the following suggestions by the nurse would best promote this goal? A) Have the parents choose what he should read initially. B) Tell the child to read instead of watching TV with his parents. C) Tell the parents that reading is for the child to do by himself. D) Take the child to the library to check out some books.

D) Take the child to the library to check out some books.

The school nurse knows that school-age children are developing metalinguistic awareness. Which of the following is an example of this skill? A) The child enjoys reading books. B) The child enjoys conversations with peers. C) The child enjoys speaking on the phone. D) The child enjoys telling jokes.

D) The child enjoys telling jokes.