What is a key feature of the sensory motor stage according to Piaget?

The key feature of the sensory motor stage according to Piaget is present-focused thinking. This stage, which occurs from birth to about two years of age, is characterized by the infant's understanding of the world primarily through their immediate sensory experiences and actions. During this developmental phase, children interact with their environment in the here and now, relying on their senses and motor skills to explore and learn. They focus on what they can see, hear, touch, taste, and move, with little understanding of past or future events.

In contrast to this present-focused nature, abstract thinking, which involves considering concepts that are not directly observable, does not emerge until later stages. Similarly, the use of symbols also develops after the sensory motor stage and is a hallmark of the subsequent preoperational stage. Logical thinking is characteristic of formal operational thinking, which occurs much later in development, typically starting around age 12. Thus, the emphasis on immediate experiences and interactions during the sensory motor stage aligns perfectly with the idea of being present-focused.