Stages of Development
Sensorimotor (birth until 2 years)
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Recognizes self as agent of action and begins to act
intentionally
Differentiates self from objects
Begins to differentiate sensory and motor actions, initially
reflexes, by means of accommodation and coordinates
them to form adaptive ways of acting on the environment
- Bukakto & Daehler, 2001
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Organizes responses to objects into complex activities
such as hand-eye coordination, knowledge of space and
objects, and eventually rudimentary symbols designed to
solve problems and understand the physical world Bukakto & Daehler, 2001
Stages of Development
Sensorimotor (birth until 2 years)
•The Sensorimotor Stage is divided into six subcategories:
1. Simple reflexes: From birth to one month old. At this time infants use reflexes
such as rooting and sucking.
2. First habits and primary circular reactions: From one month to four months old.
During this time infants learn to coordinate sensation and two types of schema
(habit and circular reactions). A primary circular reaction is when the infant tries
to reproduce an event that happened by accident (ex.: sucking thumb).
3. Secondary circular reactions: From four to eight months old. At this time they
become aware of things beyond their own body; they are more object-oriented.
At this time they might accidentally shake a rattle and continue to do it for sake
of satisfaction.
4. Coordination of secondary circular reactions: From eight months to twelve
months old. During this stage they can do things intentionally. They can now
combine and recombine schemata and try to reach a goal (ex.: use a stick to
reach something). They also understand object permanence at this stage. That is,
they understand that objects continue to exist even when they can't see them.
5. Tertiary circular reactions, novelty, and curiosity: From twelve months old to
eighteen months old. During this stage infants explore new possibilities of
objects; they try different things to get different results.
6. Coordination of tertiary circular reactions: From eighteen to twenty-four months.
Internalization of behaviors and development of mental symbols.