By about what age does object permanence become evident?

• A. By 4-6 months
• B. By 6-9 months
• C. By 8-12 months
• D. By 12-18 months

Answer: (C)

Object permanence is the understanding that an object continues to exist even when it’s out of sight. This awareness becomes reliably evident around eight to twelve months. At this stage, infants will actively search for a toy that has been partially hidden or moved under a blanket, showing they know it still exists even though they can’t see it. Earlier, around four to six months, babies may track objects visually but they don’t consistently engage in purposeful search for hidden items. By the end of the first year, and into the next, their search skills become more refined and they begin to handle more complex hiding scenarios, but the clear emergence of object permanence is best reflected in the eight-to-twelve-month window.