In which of Piaget's stages of cognitive development can young children use…
2026
In which of Piaget's stages of cognitive development can young children use mental symbols even though their thinking is not yet logical?
Answer: C. Preoperational stage — ConceptPiaget's theory describes cognitive development as a sequence of qualitatively different ways of thinking. A stage is identified by the mental…
- A.
Concrete operational stage
- B.
Sensorimotor stage
- C.
Preoperational stage
- D.
Formal operational stage
Attempted by 20 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Concept
Piaget's theory describes cognitive development as a sequence of qualitatively different ways of thinking.
A stage is identified by the mental operations a child can use, not merely by chronological age.
Application
The stem combines two features: the child can represent objects through words, images, or pretend play, yet does not consistently perform logical mental operations.
This combination characterizes the preoperational stage, commonly associated with approximately ages 2 to 7.
Contrast and cross-check
Sensorimotor stage: knowledge is organized primarily through sensory experience and physical action.
Concrete operational stage: logical operations are available when reasoning about concrete objects and events.
Formal operational stage: reasoning can extend to abstract propositions and hypothetical possibilities.
The simultaneous presence of symbolic representation and the absence of stable logical operations distinguishes the preoperational stage from the adjacent stages.
Result
Therefore, the answer is the preoperational stage.