Ohio Assessments for Educators (OAE) Assessment of Professional Knowledge Practice Exam 2026 - Free OAE Practice Questions and Study Guide

The first stage in Piaget's Developmental Stages is the Sensorimotor stage. In this stage, which occurs from birth to approximately two years of age, infants learn about the world primarily through their senses and motor activities. They interact with their environment and discover the relationships between their actions and the outcomes; for example, they learn that shaking a rattle makes a noise. During this phase, children also begin to develop object permanence, the understanding that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be seen.

This foundational stage sets the groundwork for later cognitive development, as children become more adept at thinking and problem-solving in subsequent stages. The subsequent stages, such as the Preoperational, Concrete Operations, and Formal Operations, build on the experiences and cognitive abilities developed during the Sensorimotor stage. Understanding this initial stage is crucial for educators and caregivers, as it informs how they approach learning and engagement with children in their early years.