An introductory text reads, Jean Piaget proposed that children’s cognitive development occurs in stages characterized by particular cognitive abilities. These stages have distinct beginnings and endings. Piaget’s four stages of cognitive development are depicted in block graphs.
Sensorimotor, birth to 2 years: Child uses sensory capabilities and motor activities to learn about the world; develops object permanence.
Preoperational, 2 to 7 years: Child uses symbolic thinking to explore and understand the world. Children at this stage are known for magical thinking and egocentrism.
Concrete Operational, 7 to 11 years: Child understands operations and thinks more logically in reference to concrete objects and circumstances.
Formal Operational, 11 years and up: Child is now able to think logically and systematically and is capable of hypothetical thinking.
How do we assess a child’s stage of cognitive development?
Piaget developed techniques to test characteristic capabilities associated with each stage.
Object permanence test: Does the child realize objects continue to exist when they are hidden? Infants who developed object permanence will search for an object.
Three mountains task test egocentrism. An illustration depicts a square board on which three mountains of different sizes are placed and the sides are labeled A, B, C, D. A text below reads, Can the child imagine a perspective different from her own? “What would you see if you were standing at point B?
Conservation of Volume test: assesses understanding of operations. Does a child understand that the amount of liquid remains constant when it is poured into a container with a different shape?
Third Eye task tests formal operational thought. “If you had a third eye, where would you put it?” Children at this stage come up with logical, innovative answers.