During which stage do children develop object permanence?

Children develop object permanence during the sensorimotor stage of cognitive development, which is the first stage according to Jean Piaget's theory. This stage spans from birth to around 2 years of age. Object permanence is the understanding that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be seen, heard, or otherwise sensed. This critical cognitive leap occurs typically between 8 and 12 months of age, indicating that infants begin to realize that their experiences are not solely tied to their immediate perception.

In the sensorimotor stage, children learn about the world primarily through their senses and motor activities. Initially, they do not have a concept of object permanence, often behaving as if an object ceases to exist when it is out of sight. The development of object permanence signifies a growing awareness of the world and the ability to form mental representations of objects, which lays the groundwork for more complex cognitive processes in later stages of development.

As for the other stages, while they reflect significant cognitive advancements (like logical thinking in the concrete operational stage or abstract reasoning in the formal operational stage), they do not relate directly to the emergence of object permanence, which is specific to the sensorimotor stage.