FTCE Professional Education Practice Exam

What is the term used for the stage of cognitive development from birth to age 2, characterized by learning through the senses and motor development?

1. Preoperational Stage

2. Concrete Operational Stage

3. Sensorimotor Stage

4. Formal Operational Stage

The correct answer is: Sensorimotor Stage

The stage of cognitive development characterized by learning through the senses and motor skills from birth to age 2 is known as the Sensorimotor Stage. During this period, infants explore their environment and learn through actions and sensory experiences. They begin to understand the world around them by manipulating objects and by experiencing them through touch, sight, taste, sound, and movement. This stage is crucial because it lays the groundwork for more complex thought processes that develop in later stages. Infants in the sensorimotor stage also develop object permanence, which is the understanding that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be seen. This foundational knowledge significantly contributes to cognitive development, allowing for advancements in problem-solving and the eventual transition to more sophisticated stages of thinking. In contrast, the other stages mentioned refer to psychological developments that occur later: the Preoperational Stage focuses on symbolic thought and egocentrism typically from ages 2 to 7, the Concrete Operational Stage involves logical thinking about concrete objects and concepts from ages 7 to 11, and the Formal Operational Stage refers to abstract and hypothetical thinking starting from around age 12 onward. Thus, the Sensorimotor Stage is distinctly marked by these early sensory and motor learning experiences.