During what stage does a child begin to show intentional actions?

The coordination of secondary reactions marks a pivotal stage in a child’s cognitive development, specifically within Jean Piaget’s framework of sensorimotor stages. At this point, which typically occurs around 8 to 12 months of age, children start to exhibit intentional actions and purposeful behavior. They begin to coordinate two or more actions to achieve a specific goal, illustrating an understanding of cause and effect.

For example, a child might grasp a toy in one hand while using the other hand to pull a blanket to reach it. This indicates that the child is not only aware of their actions but is also able to plan and execute a sequence of movements with an intention behind them. This stage represents a transition from simple reflexive actions to more complex behaviors that involve planning and intent, showcasing significant cognitive development.

In contrast, the other stages mentioned focus on different aspects of early development. The reflexive stage emphasizes innate reflexes present at birth, while primary circular reactions involve repetitive actions centered on the infant's own body, typically occurring around 1 to 4 months. Tertiary circular reactions, which follow the coordination of secondary reactions, showcase experimentation with different actions to observe outcomes and generally arise around 12 to 18 months. Thus, coordination of secondary reactions is