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When and how babies learn about object permanence
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Have you ever asked yourself when does your baby start to understand that an object still exists even though they cannot see it or hear it?
You may have hidden your baby’s rattle or toy and your baby had no reaction. If they don’t see it, they think it is gone for good. But at about 8 months old, they may begin to look for their teddy bear hidden under the blanket.
The awareness that their favorite toys still exist even when they are out of sight is called object permanence. Understanding object permanence in psychology helps children to navigate the world around them and to develop a sense of trust and security in their relationships with others.
In this article, we will explore object permanence development in children, the stages of this development according to Piaget’s theory, and some games and activities that you can use to help your child develop this important cognitive skill.
In this article, you will learn:
By the end of this article, you will have a better understanding of the importance of object permanence in cognitive development and some practical tools for promoting this skill in your child.
Let’s get started!
Object permanence is a developmental concept that refers to a child’s understanding that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be seen or heard.
In other words, it is the ability to understand that an object still exists, even if it is temporarily hidden from view. This concept typically develops in infants between 7-9 months old and is considered an important milestone in cognitive development.
The ability to understand object permanence allows children to engage in more complex interactions with their environment and helps them form a basic understanding of cause-and-effect relationships.
It also allows them to anticipate future events based on past experiences and aids in the development of problem-solving skills.
According to Jean Piaget, a well-known developmental psychologist, object permanence is a cognitive milestone that marks the transition from the sensorimotor stage of development to the preoperational stage of development.
Piaget believed that object permanence develops gradually as children learn to coordinate their sensory experiences with their motor actions.
When does object permanence happen? Piaget proposed that in the sensorimotor stage, which lasts from birth to around 2 years of age, infants lack a full understanding of object permanence. At this stage, infants may believe that objects cease to exist when they are out of sight.
However, as they engage in sensorimotor activities, such as grasping, reaching, and manipulating objects, they gradually develop the concept of object permanence. By around 7-9 months, they have a basic understanding that objects still exist, even when they are out of sight.
Piaget believed that object permanence was an essential cognitive skill that allows children to form mental representations of objects and engage in more complex problem-solving and reasoning tasks.
According to Piaget, children who lack a full understanding of object permanence may struggle with tasks that require them to remember the location of objects or anticipate future events based on past experiences.
Piaget’s object permanence theory proposes six stages of object permanence, which represent the cognitive developmental progression of infants from birth to 24 months of age.
Object permanence is an important concept in cognitive development because it helps children form a basic understanding of the physical world around them.
By developing the ability to understand that objects still exist even when they are out of sight or cannot be heard, children can engage in more complex interactions with their environment and form mental representations of objects.
Here are some specific reasons why object permanence is important in cognitive development:
Object permanence develops at around 7-9 months of age and continues to develop throughout the sensorimotor stage, which lasts from birth to around 2 years of age. However, the exact age at which object permanence develops can vary depending on the child and their individual experiences.
By around 7-9 months, infants have a basic understanding that objects still exist, even when they are out of sight. They may begin to search for objects that are hidden or anticipate the reappearance of objects that disappear.
As they continue to develop object permanence, they become better at remembering the location of objects and anticipating future events based on past experiences.
Let’s quickly talk about object permanence and separation anxiety. Separation anxiety is often associated with the development of object permanence in infants.
As infants develop object permanence and begin to understand that people and objects continue to exist even when they are out of sight, they may become distressed when their parent is not present.
This is because they have developed a strong attachment to their parents and understand that parents still exist, even when they cannot see them.
Separation anxiety typically begins to emerge around 6-8 months of age, which is around the same time that infants begin to develop object permanence. Infants may become upset or distressed when their parents leave the room and may search for them or cry until they return.
This behavior is a normal part of cognitive and emotional development and usually becomes less intense as infants continue to develop object permanence and a sense of trust and security in their parents.
It is important for you to be responsive and supportive during times of separation anxiety, as this can help your infant develop a sense of trust and security in their relationships with others.
Over time, as your infant develops more advanced cognitive and emotional skills, they become better able to cope with separation and develop a sense of independence and autonomy.
Simple games and activities can help your child develop object permanence. Here are some examples:
There are many fun and engaging games and activities you can do to help your child develop object permanence and other important cognitive skills. These activities can be adapted to suit the needs and interests of your child and can be incorporated into everyday play and routines.
There are several signs that indicate your baby is developing object permanence. Here are a few to look out for:
Object permanence is an important milestone of cognitive development in children, and recent research has shown that infants are capable of mastering this skill earlier in life than previously believed.
You can help your baby develop object permanence by engaging in games and activities like peekaboo or using an object permanence toy. These activities not only help with cognitive development but also provide enjoyable bonding experiences between you and your child.
I truly hope you found this article helpful. If you ever want more tips and strategies, or just need to stay motivated with Montessori at home, visit my Instagram page and YouTube channel where I share more information so you can be successful with Montessori at home.
Hello, I am Leslie. I am on a mission to help you support the growth and development of your child. With the right tools and proper guidance, you can navigate parenthood with confidence and assertion! My goal is to equip you with knowledge to help you construct a strong foundation for your child’s life.
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