What are the stages of development according to Piaget?

The stages of development according to Jean Piaget are accurately described as sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational.

In the Sensorimotor stage, which occurs from birth to about 2 years old, children learn through their senses and actions, developing object permanence as they understand that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be seen.

The Preoperational stage spans from approximately 2 to 7 years of age. In this phase, children begin to use language and engage in symbolic play but struggle with understanding abstract concepts, which leads to egocentric thinking where they have difficulty seeing perspectives other than their own.

The Concrete Operational stage, occurring between ages 7 and 11, marks a significant leap in cognitive abilities. Children in this stage develop logical thinking but still need concrete objects to understand abstract ideas. They become capable of operations such as classification and seriation.

Finally, the Formal Operational stage emerges around age 12 and continues into adulthood. At this point, individuals develop the ability to think abstractly, reason logically, and plan systematically, allowing for greater problem-solving abilities and advanced reasoning skills.

This sequence of stages illustrates how children's thought processes evolve as they interact with their environment, each stage building on the