Piaget's theory of cognitive development
Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development posits that children progress through four stages—sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational—each marked by distinct ways of thinking. Piaget emphasized that children actively construct knowledge through experiences and interactions with their environment, a process known as constructivism. They explore, experiment, and build their understanding over time. As they navigate these stages, they develop increasingly complex cognitive skills, moving from concrete to abstract reasoning, highlighting how learning is a dynamic and individual journey shaped by discovery and cognitive growth.
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Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development posits that children progress through four distinct stages—sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational—each characterized by different ways of thinking and understanding the world. In the sensorimotor stage, infants learn through sensory experiences and actions. The preoperational stage involves symbolic thinking but lacks logic. The concrete operational stage introduces logical reasoning about concrete events, while the formal operational stage allows for abstract thinking and problem-solving. Piaget’s work emphasizes that cognitive development is a gradual process shaped by interaction with the environment, highlighting the evolution of reasoning skills as children grow.