During which stage does a child begin to develop object permanence?

During which stage does a child begin to develop object permanence?

• A. Preoperational stage
• B. Sensorimotor stage
• C. Concrete operational stage
• D. Adolescent stage

Answer: (B)

Object permanence is a crucial developmental milestone that typically emerges during the sensorimotor stage of a child's development, according to Piaget’s theory. This stage lasts from birth to approximately 2 years of age. During this time, infants learn to understand that objects continue to exist even when they are not visible. For example, if a toy is hidden under a blanket, a child who has developed object permanence will understand that the toy still exists and will look for it. This understanding signifies a growing cognitive ability to form mental representations of objects. In contrast, the preoperational stage, the concrete operational stage, and the adolescent stage involve different cognitive skills and processes that occur after the foundational understanding of object permanence has already been established. Hence, the sensorimotor stage is the correct answer as it is specifically characterized by this important cognitive development.

Object permanence is a crucial developmental milestone that typically emerges during the sensorimotor stage of a child's development, according to Piaget’s theory. This stage lasts from birth to approximately 2 years of age. During this time, infants learn to understand that objects continue to exist even when they are not visible. For example, if a toy is hidden under a blanket, a child who has developed object permanence will understand that the toy still exists and will look for it.

This understanding signifies a growing cognitive ability to form mental representations of objects. In contrast, the preoperational stage, the concrete operational stage, and the adolescent stage involve different cognitive skills and processes that occur after the foundational understanding of object permanence has already been established. Hence, the sensorimotor stage is the correct answer as it is specifically characterized by this important cognitive development.