American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS) Practice Test

During which stage do children primarily use their senses to explore the world?

1. Preoperational stage

2. Formal operational stage

3. Sensorimotor stage

4. Concrete operational stage

The correct answer is: Sensorimotor stage

Children primarily use their senses to explore the world during the sensorimotor stage. This developmental stage, which occurs from birth to approximately two years of age, is characterized by how infants learn about their environment through direct sensory experiences and motor actions. They engage with their surroundings by touching, looking, hearing, and manipulating objects, which is crucial for cognitive development. During this time, they also begin to form an understanding of object permanence—the realization that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be seen. This exploration is fundamental in helping children connect sensory input with physical actions and gradually leads to more complex cognitive developments. The other stages mentioned develop at later periods in a child's growth, focusing on different aspects of thought processes, reasoning, and understanding symbols rather than on direct sensory exploration.