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The sensorimotor stage in Piaget's theory is characterized by the cognitive development of infants and toddlers from birth to approximately 2 years old. During this stage, children learn about the world primarily through their senses and motor actions. They explore their environment, react to stimuli, and begin to understand object permanence—the understanding that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be seen. This foundational stage is crucial as it sets the groundwork for further cognitive development in subsequent stages.

In contrast, the other stages labelled in the choices relate to different periods in Piaget's developmental theory, such as the preoperational stage, which spans ages 2 to 7, and the concrete operational stage, which occurs between 7 and 11 years. The formal operational stage begins in adolescence and continues into adulthood. Each of these stages builds on the previous one, highlighting the progressive nature of cognitive development according to Piaget.