In Piaget's theory, which stage occurs from ages 0-2 and focuses on object permanence?

The sensorimotor stage is the correct answer as it encompasses the cognitive development of infants from birth to about two years of age. During this stage, children learn about the world through their senses and interactions with their immediate environment. A key concept that develops during this period is object permanence, which is the understanding that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be seen or heard. This milestone is crucial as it signifies the beginning of the ability to form mental representations of objects, which lays the foundation for more complex thought processes in later stages of development.

In contrast, the preoperational stage follows the sensorimotor stage and typically occurs from ages 2 to 7. It is characterized by the development of language and symbolic thought, but it does not focus on object permanence as a central theme. The concrete operational stage, between ages 7 and 11, introduces logical reasoning about concrete objects and events, while the formal operational stage, starting around age 12, involves abstract reasoning and hypothetical thinking, further distancing them from the foundational experiences of the sensorimotor stage.