A school-age child is having a wellness examination. Which statement would indicate to you that the child is completing the psychosocial task of industry?

According to Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial development, the school-age child (approximately 6 to 12 years) faces the stage of industry versus inferiority. Industry is demonstrated when children develop a sense of competence, mastery, and achievement through learning new skills and completing tasks, particularly academic and creative ones. Stating a genuine interest in science and achieving a high test score directly reflects mastery and a developing sense of competence, which is the hallmark of industry. Watching TV shows with friends reflects social activity but not skill mastery or a sense of productive achievement. Being unable to tie shoes and wearing slip-on shoes suggests a developmental delay or unresolved task from the toddler or preschool stage, which would actually point toward a sense of inferiority rather than industry. Helping a mother with a baby brother demonstrates a helpful behavior but is more reflective of initiative, which is the task of the preschool stage. The key distinguishing feature of industry is active skill acquisition and the pride of accomplishment, most clearly captured by academic achievement in this example.