Ohio Assessments for Educators (OAE) Early Childhood Practice Exam

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Prepare for the Ohio Assessments for Educators (OAE) Early Childhood Test. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with detailed explanations. Get closer to your teaching dreams now!

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Which of the following behaviors reflects an infant's development of an understanding of object permanence?

sucking on part of a handheld toy
switching a toy from hand to hand
watching a toy roll across a floor
searching for a toy under a blanket

The correct answer is: searching for a toy under a blanket

The development of object permanence is a crucial milestone in an infant's cognitive development, typically emerging around 4 to 7 months of age. This ability allows infants to understand that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be seen. When an infant searches for a toy under a blanket, it demonstrates their comprehension that the toy is still present, despite being out of sight. This behavior indicates that the infant has formed a mental representation of the object, which is key to understanding the concept of object permanence. In contrast, other actions, such as sucking on a handheld toy, switching a toy from hand to hand, or watching a toy roll across the floor, do not display this understanding. These behaviors are more related to sensory exploration and motor skills rather than cognitive processing regarding the existence of objects when they are not visible. Therefore, actively looking for a hidden toy showcases the infant's emerging cognitive abilities and their understanding of object permanence.