When doing exams on a school aged child it is

When doing exams on a school-aged child it is important to explain in the child’s developmental
level what will be done. Use simple terms. If you were to need an x-ray you should say we will
take a big camera and take a picture. We will be able to see inside of your body.

Child assessments
When assessing a child’s neck for lymph nodes-the nurse should expect to find non-palpable
lymph nodes as this is signs of a healthy client. If the nodes are palpable this may indicate
infection or inflammation.
To assess the hypoglossal nerve on a child, have them stick their tongue out.
To assess the bronchial lung sounds, place the stethoscope ever the trachea and the
suprasternal notch.
When auscultating the heart sounds of an adolescent, the mitral valve is in the fifth intercostal space,
mid-clavicular line. The aortic valve is the second intercostal space, right of the sternal border?

Development of a Preschooler
(3-4-year-old)
4-year-old should be able to follow simple commands and button up a shirt.
Should be able to hop on one foot
They should only gain 4.5 lbs. a year generally. Therefore, a weight gain of 1.5 lb. in one month would
not be normal and need to be reported.
When assessing a 4-year-old child it is important to gain their trust. You can do this by addressing
things that are important to them like the shirt that they are wearing or a TV show that they like etc.
Also use play to assess body parts of a toddler.
Explaining procedures to a preschooler with a doll can help decrease the amount of stress
When preparing the preschooler for school the parent should read to the child every day, provide an
open, positive attitude towards learning, speak to the child in full sentences, and keep the child socially
engaged.

Assessing kindergarten
readiness
When a child is being assessed for kindergarten readiness, the nurse will assess the client’s
attention span. A child who cannot sit still and pay attention to simple requests and is in
constant motion, may benefit from delaying starting school. The child may also benefit from
diagnostic testing that can identify learning needs and early intervention programs that may be
beneficial to the child.
Peer acceptance is very important to school-aged children. Your child may switch interests in
after school activities because of the peers.

Types of Play
Cooperative play-
•
Children playing together. They have organized and have determined how to win the game.
Associative play-
• Children play together in similar or identical activities but there is no organization and no
goal to reach to win the game
Solitary play-
•
Children play alone with different toys in the same area
Parallel play
• Children play by themselves with similar toys, but they are not influenced by what the other
children are playing

Attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder
Types of ADHD and characteristics:
Inattentive, hyperactivity, and combined type of ADHD
◦
Characteristics of ADHD include not focusing, not completing tasks-like chores at home, not finishing
school assignments, interrupting.