Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development

Sensorimotor (0-2 years)

Infants learn through sensory experiences and motor actions. 

• Learn about the world through basic actions such as sucking, grasping, looking, and listening

• Learn that things continue to exist even when they cannot be seen (object permanence)

• Realize that they are separate beings from the people and objects around them

• Realize that their actions can cause things to happen in the world around them

Preoperational (2-7 years)

Children develop symbolic thinking and language, but struggle with abstract concepts. 

• Begin to think symbolically and learn to use words and pictures to represent objects

• Tend to be egocentric and struggle to see things from the perspective of others

• Getting better with language and thinking, but still tend to think in very concrete terms

Concrete Operational (7-11 years)

Children begin to think logically about concrete objects and events

• Begin to understand the concept of conservation; that the amount of liquid in a short, wide cup is equal to that in a tall, skinny glass, for example

• Thinking becomes more logical and organized, but still very concrete

• Begin using inductive logic, or reasoning from specific information to a general principle

Formal Operational (12+ years)

Individuals develop the ability to think abstractly and reason hypothetically

• Begins to think abstractly and reason about hypothetical problems

• Begins to think more about moral, philosophical, ethical, social, and political issues that require theoretical and abstract reasoning

• Begins to use deductive logic, or reasoning from a general principle to specific information