Jean Piaget’s Stages of Cognitive Development

Age Range for Sensorimotor Stage

Birth to 2 years old

Key characteristics of the Sensorimotor Stage

1. Learn through actions and senses

2. Develop object permanence

3. Focus on present experiences

Schema of the Sensorimotor Stage

Basic understanding of the world through senses and actions (e.g. sucking reflex, grasping)

Assimilation of the Sensorimotor Stage

Fitting new experiences into existing schemas (e.g. sucking on a new toy)

Accommodation of the Sensorimotor Stage

Modifying existing schemas to fit new experiences (e.g. realizing a rattle can be shaken, not just sucked)

An example of the Sensorimotor Stage

1. Grasping and shaking objects to explore their properties

2. Recognizing familiar faces and voices

3. Hiding and seeking games to understand object permanence

Age range of the Preoperational stage

2 to 7 years old

Key characteristics of the Preoperational stage

1. Use symbols and language

2. Engage in pretend play

3. Egocentric thinking: difficulty seeing things from others’ perspectives

Schema of the Preoperational Stage

More complex mental representations of objects, actions and relationships

Assimilation of the Preoperational Stage

Pretending objects have different functions (e.g. using a banana as a phone)

Accommodation of the Preoperational Stage

Creating new schemas or modifying existing ones to represent new experiences (e.g. understanding that not all animals make the same sound)

Examples of the Preoperational Stage

1. Engaging in pretend play with dolls and stuffed animals, assigning them roles and actions

2. Drawing pictures to represent objects and experiences

3. Difficulty sharing toys due to egocentrism

Age range of the Concrete Operational Stage

7 to 11 years old

Key characteristics of the Concrete Operational Stage

1. Think logically about concrete objects and events

2. Understand conservation of matter

3. Develop classification and seriation skills

Schemas of the Concrete Operational Stage

Organized and logical understanding of the world based on concrete experiences

Assimilation of the Concrete Operational Stage

Classifying objects based on existing schemas. (e.g. sorting toys by color)

Accommodation of the Concrete Operational Stage

Developing new schemas to understand complex concepts (e.g. realizing that the amount of liquid remains the same despite being pour into a different container)

Examples of the Concrete Operational Stage

1. Solving puzzles and mazes that require logical reasoning

2. Following instructions with multiple steps

3. Grouping objects by category (e.g. cars, animals) and ordering them by size or weight

Age range of the Formal Operational Stage

11 years old and beyond

Key characteristics of the Formal Operational Stage

1. Think abstractly and hypothetically

2. Develop deductive and inductive reasoning

3. Can consider multiple perspectives

Schema of the Formal Operational Stage

Abstract and complex mental models of the world, including hypothetical possibilities

Assimilation of the Formal Operational Stage

Applying existing schemas to solve problems in novel situations.

Accommodation of the Formal Operational Stage

Developing entirely new schemas to understand abstract concepts and relationships

Examples of the Formal Operational Stage

1. Solving algebraic equations that involve abstract variables

2. Engaging in debates and critical thinking, considering different viewpoints and arguments

3. Planning for the future and considering potential consequences of actions

What did Jean Piaget believe?

Piaget believed children progress through these stages in a fixed order Where each stage builds upon the previous one, leading to increasingly complex cognitive abilities.

What is the caveat with these stages of Cognitive development?

That these are approximate age ranges and individual development may vary