FTCE Professional Education Practice Exam

Which developmental stage occurs from birth to age 2 according to Piaget?

1. Sensorimotor Stage

2. Preoperational Stage

3. Concrete Operational Stage

4. Formal Operational Stage

The correct answer is: Sensorimotor Stage

The developmental stage that occurs from birth to age 2, according to Piaget, is the Sensorimotor Stage. During this stage, infants learn about their world primarily through sensory experiences and motor actions. They explore their surroundings by touching, seeing, hearing, and moving, which helps them form a base for understanding object permanence—the concept that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be seen. This foundational period is characterized by rapid cognitive growth, as infants are actively engaged in learning through exploration. Piaget's other stages—like the Preoperational Stage, which follows the Sensorimotor Stage and typically ranges from ages 2 to 7, focus on symbolic thinking and language development; the Concrete Operational Stage, which occurs from approximately ages 7 to 11, emphasizes logical thinking about concrete events; and the Formal Operational Stage, beginning around age 12, involves abstract and hypothetical reasoning—are not applicable to the developmental stage that spans from birth to age 2.