Pediatric ATI Practice Exam

At what point should a child be able to refer to themselves using the appropriate pronoun?

1. 24 months

2. 18 months

3. 12 months

4. 15 months

The correct answer is: 18 months

A child typically begins to refer to themselves using the appropriate pronouns around 18 months of age. This developmental milestone shows that the child is starting to understand the concept of self and can communicate their identity within social interactions. By this age, children have usually developed enough language skills to start using words like "I" or "me," indicating a growing awareness of themselves as separate individuals. This self-referential speech is an important aspect of language development and social awareness, contributing to their ability to engage in conversations and form relationships with others. The ages of 12 months and 15 months are typically too early for consistent use of pronouns, as children at this stage are still mainly babbling or using simple words and phrases. While some children may begin to show signs of understanding self-reference slightly earlier, 18 months is generally recognized as the expected age for this developmental step. As for 24 months, while children are likely to be more adept at using pronouns consistently, it is not the initial milestone for self-reference that occurs at 18 months.