What do children primarily rely on during the 8-12 month substage of the sensorimotor stage?

During the 8-12 month substage of the sensorimotor stage, children begin to engage in purposeful actions to achieve specific effects in their environment. This time frame marks a significant developmental milestone where infants start to comprehend the relationship between their actions and the reactions those actions produce. They are no longer just exploring randomly but are applying their previous experiences to manipulate objects and interact with their surroundings in deliberate ways.

For example, a child might intentionally shake a rattle to produce sound or grasp and pull a string to see what happens. This shift towards goal-directed behavior showcases their growing cognitive abilities, as they start to understand cause-and-effect relationships better. The focus on purposeful action at this stage lays the groundwork for more complex skills, such as problem-solving and social interactions as they continue to grow and develop.