Ohio Assessments for Educators (OAE) Early Childhood Practice Exam

During which age span do young children typically first begin to demonstrate goal-directed actions?

1. 0-2 years

2. 2-4 years

3. 4-6 years

4. 6-8 years

The correct answer is: 0-2 years

Goal-directed actions are actions that are planned and intentional, aimed at achieving a specific outcome. This behavior typically begins to emerge during the age span of 0-2 years. In this developmental stage, children start to engage in simple forms of goal-directed behavior, such as reaching for objects, crawling toward toys, or looking for caregivers, indicating an emerging understanding of their actions in relation to their goals. As children interact with their environment during this time, they begin to show increased coordination between their intentions and actions. For example, an infant may try to grasp a toy that is out of reach, demonstrating an understanding of the goal and the means to achieve it. These early actions lay the foundation for more complex goal-directed behavior that develops in subsequent years. In contrast, the ages of 2-4 years, 4-6 years, and 6-8 years show further advancements in goal-directed behavior, where children begin to set more complex goals, plan steps to reach those goals, and exhibit persistence in problem-solving activities. However, the initial onset of goal-directed actions can be distinctly observed in the 0-2 year range, marking a significant milestone in early childhood development.