In which substage of the sensorimotor stage do children begin to repeat rewarding actions focused on the environment?

The correct answer identifies the substage known as Secondary Circular Reactions, which occurs between approximately 4 to 8 months of age in Piaget's theory of cognitive development. During this phase, infants begin to make actions that are focused on the environment and discover that these actions can lead to interesting outcomes. For instance, a child might accidentally kick a toy and realize that the toy makes sounds as a result. This leads them to repeat the action because it is rewarding and often elicits a pleasurable response from their surroundings, showcasing their growing understanding of cause and effect.

In this substage, the actions are somewhat more intentional than in the previous stages, as infants engage in behaviors that are not solely reflexive but are also aimed at exploring their environment more effectively. The focus shifts from self-directed actions to those that involve interaction with the environment, demonstrating the child’s expanding understanding of the world around them.

Coordination of Reactions follows this substage and involves more complex behaviors, including combining actions to achieve desired outcomes, and might involve an understanding of intention, while Tertiary Circular Reactions introduces more experimentation and manipulation of objects. Early Representational Thought occurs at a later stage where children begin to use symbols and engage in more complex thought processes.