Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessments (AEPA) 2026 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The correct answer is associated with the phase known as Secondary Circular Reactions, which is a substage in Piaget's sensorimotor stage of cognitive development. During this substage, which typically occurs between 4 to 8 months of age, infants begin to engage in more intentional and repeated actions that are focused on the external environment. This period is characterized by infants discovering that their actions can lead to interesting effects in their surroundings, often explored through their mouths as they taste and manipulate various objects.

This exploration through mouthing is critical for cognitive development, as it allows infants to gain sensory information about different textures, shapes, and materials. They begin to understand cause and effect as they learn that their actions can yield predictable outcomes, such as producing sounds or experiencing different sensations by interacting with their environment.

The other stages—Primary Circular Reactions, Coordination of Reactions, and Imitative Reactions—represent different aspects and timelines of cognitive growth. Primary Circular Reactions, for instance, involve simple repetitive actions centered on the infant’s body, while Coordination of Reactions pertains to more advanced interactions and goal-oriented behaviors that typically occur later. Imitative Reactions emerge even later, linked to the ability of the infant to replicate observed behaviors. Thus