Final answer:
Piaget's theory of cognitive development consists of four stages: Sensorimotor, Preoperational, Concrete Operational, and Formal Operational. Each stage represents different cognitive abilities and age ranges.
Step-by-step explanation:
The stages of Piaget's theory of cognitive development
- Sensorimotor: Birth to 2 years old. Children learn about the world through senses and motor behavior.
- Preoperational: Approximately 2 to 7 years old. Children engage in pretend play and use symbols to represent words and ideas.
- Concrete Operational: Approximately 7 to 11 years old. Children can think logically about real events, perform mathematical operations, and understand the concept of conservation.
- Formal Operational: From about age 11 to adulthood. Children can think abstractly, deal with hypothetical situations, and use abstract thinking to problem solve.
Piaget believed that cognitive development unfolds in a series of stages, with each stage marked by distinct cognitive abilities.