piagets development of cognition

sensorimotor

• birth - 2 years

• child uses sensorimotor skills to develop an understanding of the world and progress from reflexive activity to the ability to use cognitive functions to combine and manipulate objects in play

preoperational

• 2-7 years

• child progresses from dependence on perception and having an egocentric orientation to the use of logical thought to solve problem

• ability to engage in and enjoy symbolic and verbal play

concrete operational

• 7-11 years

• child develops ability to use logical thinking on observed or mentally represented objects and enjoy games with rules which help child adjust to cognitive demands

formal operations

• 11 - teen years

• child develops ability to use logical to hypothesize many ways to solve problems and can draw from past and present experiences to imagine what can influence future situations