Final answer:
Metamemory develops from limited awareness at 2 years old to a basic understanding of others' thoughts by 7 years old, and culminates in near-adult proficiency by 18 years old, with improved mnemonic strategies and recall abilities.
Step-by-step explanation:
Metamemory, which refers to one's knowledge and awareness of their own memory abilities and processes, develops as children grow older. At 2 years old, children are in the preoperational stage of cognitive development and their metamemory is quite limited, lacking an awareness of others' thoughts and perspectives.
By the age of 7 years old, children have developed a sense of theory of mind, allowing them to recognize that others have false beliefs and thoughts different from their own. Their increased understanding of memory processes enables them to use mnemonic strategies, though still with limited efficiency compared to adults.
Adolescents at 18 years old often have basic thinking abilities comparable to adults. They demonstrate similar levels of attention, memory, processing speed, and organization. Their metamemory is more advanced, enabling them to effectively use a variety of complex mnemonic strategies and to have a more accurate judgment of their learning and recall abilities.