Object permanence is a foundational concept in infant cognition, referring to a child’s understanding that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be seen, heard, or touched.
This ability depends on the development of mental representations, or schemas, which allow the infant to retain the idea of the object in their mind.
For example, when a toy is hidden under a blanket, a child who has developed object permanence will search for it, knowing it still exists.
In contrast, infants who have not yet reached this stage may act as though the toy has vanished.
The emergence of object permanence is a key milestone in cognitive development and typically occurs around 8 months of age.
According to Jean Piaget, the development of object permanence marks the transition from the sensorimotor stage to the preoperational stage.
Simple games like peek-a-boo help illustrate and reinforce this emerging skill, making them valuable tools in early learning.
