According to psychologist Jean Piaget, such skills emerge during the preoperational stage.
This is the second stage in histheory of cognitive development.
It begins around age 2, when children start to talk, and lasts until approximately age 7.
Illustration by Hugo Lin. © Verywell, 2018.
During this stage, children engage in symbolic play and learn to manipulate symbols.
However, Piaget noted that they do not yet understand concrete logic.
At this point in development, kids are bursting with imagination but cannot think logically about complex ideas.
Characteristics of the Preoperational Stage
The preoperational stage occurs roughly between the ages 2 and 7.
Role-playing also becomes important at this age.
One of the famous techniques to demonstrateegocentrismis known as the “Three Mountain Task.”
In this task:
Invariably, children almost always choose the scene showingtheir ownview of the mountain scene.
According to Piaget, children experience this difficulty because they cannot take on another person’s perspective.
Other researchers have also conducted similar experiments.
In one older study, children were shown a room in a small dollhouse.
Children could see in the dollhouse that a toy was hidden behind a piece of furniture.
Children were then taken into a full-size room that was an exact replica of the dollhouse.
Conservation in the Preoperational Stage
Another well-known experiment involves demonstrating a child’s understanding of conservation.
In one conservation experiment, equal amounts of liquid are poured into two identical containers.
Children are then asked which cup holds the most liquid.
Despite seeing that the liquid amounts were equal, children almost always choose the cup that appears fuller.
He found that few children showed any understanding of conservation prior to the age of five.
Criticisms and Modern Views
While influential, Piaget’s theories are not without criticisms.
Several importantcognitive milestonesemerge during the preoperational stage of development.
However, it is essential to recognize that all children develop at different rates.
They can assess your child’s abilities to determine if your child needs additional assistance or intervention.
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