Which stage of Piaget's cognitive theory focuses on infants interacting with their environment through sensory experiences?

The sensorimotor stage is the correct choice because it specifically describes the cognitive development phase from birth to approximately two years of age, where infants learn about the world through their senses and motor activities. During this stage, babies explore their environment by touching, looking, listening, and manipulating objects, which is essential for developing their understanding of how the world works.

This stage is characterized by a series of sub-stages, where infants progress from simple reflexive actions to more complex behaviors like intentional actions and problem-solving. They also begin to develop object permanence—the understanding that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be seen, which is a critical cognitive milestone.

In contrast, the preoperational stage involves more symbolic thinking and the use of language, typically occurring from ages two to seven, which is not focused primarily on sensory interaction. The concrete operational stage involves more logical thinking and mastery of concrete concepts without yet being able to think abstractly, usually developing from ages seven to eleven. Finally, the formal operational stage encompasses abstract thinking and reasoning, beginning around age twelve and continuing into adulthood. Each of these later stages builds on the foundational sensory and motor experiences that occur during the sensorimotor stage.