Four Stages (Sensorimotor, Preoperational, Concrete Operational, Formal Operational)

These four stages describe how children's thinking develops over time. The **Sensorimotor stage** (birth to about 2 years) involves learning through senses and actions, like touching and exploring. During the **Preoperational stage** (2 to 7 years), children start to use language and imagination but have trouble understanding perspectives different from their own. The **Concrete Operational stage** (7 to 11 years) features logical thinking about concrete objects and events, with better understanding of others’ viewpoints. Finally, the **Formal Operational stage** (adolescence and up) includes abstract and hypothetical reasoning, allowing for complex problem-solving and planning.