Final answer:
The preoperational stage occurs between ages 2 to 6, where children develop symbolic thinking but lack the ability to perform logical operations, focus heavily on concrete thinking, and do not yet have abstract reasoning.
Step-by-step explanation:
Preoperational Stage of Cognitive Development
The preoperational stage, identified by developmental psychologist Jean Piaget, occurs roughly between the ages of 2 to 6 years old. During this stage, several key cognitive developments occur:
Development of symbolic thinking: This is where children start to use symbols, such as words and images, to represent objects and concepts in the real world. It is also the reason children engage in pretend play during this stage.
Focus on concrete thinking: Preoperational children are centered on thinking about things that are concrete and present in their immediate environment.
Lack of abstract reasoning: Abstract reasoning, which involves thinking about hypothetical situations and generalizing from specific instances, are skills that have yet to emerge at this stage.
An example that illustrates the preoperational stage could be when a child, Kenny, misinterprets quantity based on appearance, such as believing he has more pizza because his slice is cut into more pieces. This reflects the lack of understanding of conservation, a concept not grasped until the next stage, the concrete operational stage.