In which developmental stage do infants (0-2 years old) explore through senses and actions, developing an understanding of object permanence?

The correct answer is the Sensorimotor Stage, which is the developmental phase where infants, typically from birth to about 2 years old, engage with their environment primarily through their senses and motor activities. During this stage, children learn about the world around them by touching, seeing, hearing, and manipulating objects.

A key feature of the Sensorimotor Stage is the concept of object permanence. This is the understanding that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be seen, heard, or touched. Infants begin to develop this understanding around 4 to 7 months of age and refine it as they grow. This cognitive development is critical as it lays the foundation for more complex thought processes and learning in subsequent stages of development.

The other stages mentioned do not focus on sensory exploration or the development of object permanence. The Concrete Operational Stage (typically from ages 7 to 11) involves logical reasoning about concrete events and the understanding of conservation. The Preoperational Stage (ages 2 to 7) is characterized by symbolic thinking but lacks the capability for logical operations and the understanding of object permanence. The Formal Operational Stage (ages 12 and up) is marked by the ability to think abstractly and systematically, which is far beyond the foundational