Preoperational Stage

The Preoperational Stage is a phase in children's cognitive development, typically from ages 2 to 7, where they begin to develop language and imagine things. During this time, children often think symbolically, using objects or words to represent other things, but their thinking is still not logical or capable of understanding complex ideas like conservation or perspective-taking. They tend to be egocentric, meaning they see the world mainly from their own view, and struggle with understanding other people's viewpoints. This stage is essential for building foundational skills that will support more advanced thinking later.