cognitive development
concepts
fundamental concepts
Object permanence refers to the understanding that objects continue to exist in their absence; that is, objects continue to exist as if “they are permanent” even though they may be out of sight. Jean Piaget discussed this concept within his stage theory of cognitive development, which contains four stages: sensorimotor thinking (0–2 years of age); preoperational thinking (2–7 years of age); concrete operational thinking (7–11 years of age); and formal operational thinking (11 years and older). [Source: Encyclopedia of Human Development; Object Permanence]
object permanence