Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development

Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development posits that children progress through four distinct stages as they grow, shaping how they think and understand the world. These stages are: 1. **Sensorimotor (0-2 years)**: Learning through sensory experience and motor actions. 2. **Preoperational (2-7 years)**: Developing language and symbolic thinking, though reasoning is still intuitive and egocentric. 3. **Concrete Operational (7-11 years)**: Beginning to think logically about concrete events, understanding the concept of conservation. 4. **Formal Operational (12 years and up)**: Developing abstract reasoning and systematic thinking. This framework highlights how children's cognitive abilities evolve with age and experience.