During a well-baby check, the baby hides a block under a blanket and looks for the block. Which normal growth and development milestone is demonstrated?

• A. Object permanence
• B. Associative play
• C. Object prehension
• D. Separation anxiety

Answer: (A)

Object permanence is being demonstrated. When the baby hides a block under a blanket and then searches for it, the infant shows that the block still exists even when it is no longer visible. This understanding develops during the sensorimotor period and typically appears around 6 to 8 months, becoming more reliable by about 9 to 12 months. It reflects memory and expectation—that objects have a persistent existence and location even when not in view—which is a foundational step in later problem-solving and cognitive development.

This isn’t about social play with others, which would involve interacting with peers (associative or collaborative play) and appears later. It isn’t simply the ability to grasp or manipulate objects (object prehension), which is more about motor skills and hand-eye coordination. It isn’t about distress at separation from a caregiver (separation anxiety), which is an emotional response rather than a cognitive understanding of object existence.