Five-year-olds who were surprised to discover that a Band-Aids box contained pencils were able to anticipate their friend's false belief about the contents of the box. This best illustrates that the children had developed a

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This scenario demonstrates that the children have developed a theory of mind, which is the ability to understand that others can have beliefs, desires, and intentions that are different from their own. The children were able to anticipate their friend's false belief (that the box contained Band-Aids instead of pencils) based on their understanding that others may not have the same information as them. Secure attachment (A) refers to a child's emotional bond with a caregiver and is not relevant in this scenario. Object permanence (B) is the understanding that objects continue to exist even when they are out of sight, which is typically mastered by the age of 2. Conservation (D) is the understanding that quantity or number remains the same despite changes in appearance, which is typically mastered by the age of 6-7.

Five-Year-Olds Who Were Surprised to Discover That a Band-Aids Box