When planning play activities for a hospitalized school-age child, a nurse uses Erikson's theory of psychosocial development to select an appropriate activity. The nurse selects an activity that will assist the child in developing which developmental goal?

The correct answer is 'A sense of industry.' According to Erikson, the central task of the school-age years is the development of a sense of industry. During this stage, children engage in activities like schoolwork, crafts, chores, hobbies, and sports to develop a sense of competence and productivity. The development of trust is the primary task of infancy, autonomy is the task of toddlerhood, and initiative is the task of the preschool years. Therefore, in this scenario, focusing on fostering a sense of industry aligns with the developmental goals of a school-age child.