What developmental challenge do children encounter during the sensorimotor stage?

During the sensorimotor stage, which occurs from birth to approximately 2 years of age, one of the significant developmental challenges children experience is stranger anxiety. This emotional response typically arises as children begin to distinguish between familiar and unfamiliar people. As they develop cognitive abilities, they become more aware of their surroundings and the people in them. Stranger anxiety manifests as fear or apprehension when encountering someone who is not recognized.

This developmental stage is crucial as it marks the interaction between the growing cognitive capabilities of the child and their emotional responses. The emergence of this anxiety indicates the formation of attachment to primary caregivers, reflecting a growing sense of security when they are present and an evolving understanding of social relationships.

Although separation anxiety usually manifests later, as children begin to develop independence, and other fears like fear of the dark or test anxiety are not characteristic of this early developmental phase, stranger anxiety serves as a critical moment in the emotional and social development of infants.