New Hampshire Foundations of Reading Practice Test

During which stage of Piaget's Theory do children primarily use their senses to explore their environment?

1. Preoperational Stage

2. Formal Operational Stage

3. Concrete Operational Stage

4. Sensorimotor Stage

The correct answer is: Sensorimotor Stage

In Piaget's Theory of Cognitive Development, the Sensorimotor Stage is the phase where infants and toddlers primarily use their senses and motor skills to explore the world around them. This stage occurs from birth to approximately 2 years of age and is characterized by the idea that children learn about their environment through direct physical interaction and sensory experiences. During this stage, children demonstrate behaviors such as reaching for objects, manipulating toys, and exploring different textures and sounds, which enables them to learn about their surroundings. Symbols and abstract thought are not yet developed, so sensory experiences are crucial for cognitive growth. In contrast, the other stages focus on different cognitive processes. The Preoperational Stage emphasizes symbolic thinking and language development, the Concrete Operational Stage introduces reasoning about concrete events, and the Formal Operational Stage involves abstract and hypothetical thinking. Each of these subsequent stages builds on the foundational experiences established in the Sensorimotor Stage.