CNM Childcare & Developmental Psychology 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A nanny is caring for a child who becomes very distressed during transitions (e.g., stopping play for lunch). The most effective strategy is to:
- Immediately remove the child from the activity
- Give a 5-minute warning before the transition (Correct answer)
- Ignore the distress until the child complies
- Increase the frequency of transitions to build tolerance
Correct answer: Give a 5-minute warning before the transition
Providing advance notice of transitions helps young children mentally prepare for change, reducing frustration and meltdowns.
Question 2: Which developmental milestone is typically expected of a child by 18 months?
- Speaking in full sentences
- Walking independently (Correct answer)
- Riding a tricycle
- Drawing recognizable figures
Correct answer: Walking independently
Most children walk independently by 12–15 months; by 18 months, independent walking is a well-established milestone.
Question 3: Authoritative parenting, which a CNM should model and support, is best characterized by:
- High warmth and high control with explanations (Correct answer)
- Low warmth and high control
- High warmth and no rules
- Low warmth and low control
Correct answer: High warmth and high control with explanations
Authoritative parenting combines warmth and clear boundaries with reasoning, and is associated with the best developmental outcomes in children.
Question 4: A child who learns to associate the sound of a bell with mealtime is demonstrating:
- Operant conditioning
- Classical conditioning (Correct answer)
- Observational learning
- Habituation
Correct answer: Classical conditioning
Classical conditioning involves learning through association between a neutral stimulus (bell) and an unconditioned stimulus (food), as demonstrated by Pavlov.
Question 5: Which behavior is a RED FLAG for developmental delay in a 12-month-old?
- Not walking yet
- Babbling with varied sounds
- No single words (e.g., 'mama,' 'dada') (Correct answer)
- Showing stranger anxiety
Correct answer: No single words (e.g., 'mama,' 'dada')
By 12 months, most children say at least one meaningful word; absence of any words can indicate a speech or developmental delay requiring evaluation.
Question 6: A school-age child in the 'Industry vs. Inferiority' stage benefits most from:
- Unstructured free time with no expectations
- Opportunities to complete tasks and receive recognition for competence (Correct answer)
- Being shielded from failure to build self-esteem
- Encouraging fantasy play over real-world skills
Correct answer: Opportunities to complete tasks and receive recognition for competence
Erikson's Industry stage (ages 6–12) is best supported by helping children develop competence through achievable challenges and positive reinforcement.
Question 7: Safe sleep practices for infants, per AAP guidelines, include:
- Placing the infant on their stomach to reduce reflux
- Using a firm, flat sleep surface in the caregiver's bed
- Room-sharing without bed-sharing on a separate firm surface (Correct answer)
- Adding a pillow for head support after 6 months
Correct answer: Room-sharing without bed-sharing on a separate firm surface
The AAP recommends room-sharing (but not bed-sharing) on a firm, flat, separate sleep surface to reduce the risk of SIDS.
CNM Childcare & Developmental Psychology 3
A nanny is caring for a child who becomes very distressed during transitions (e.g., stopping play for lunch).
The most effective strategy is to: