What is the first stage of Jean Piaget's development theory, which occurs from ages 0-2?

The first stage of Jean Piaget's development theory is the sensorimotor stage, which occurs from birth to around age two. During this timeframe, infants learn about the world through their senses and motor activities. They explore their environment by touching, looking, listening, and moving, which helps them develop an understanding of object permanence—the realization that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be seen. This stage is crucial for cognitive development, as children begin to integrate sensory experiences and motor actions to understand their surroundings and start forming mental representations of the world.

In contrast, the preoperational stage follows, typically occurring from ages 2 to 7 and focusing on symbolic thinking and language development. The concrete operational stage, which spans ages 7 to 11, introduces logical reasoning about concrete events. Lastly, the formal operational stage, beginning at around age 12, involves abstract thinking and hypothetical reasoning. Each of these stages builds on the cognitive foundations established during the sensorimotor stage.