Final answer:
The correct order of Piaget's stages of cognitive development is sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational, progressing from infancy through adulthood with increasing complexity in thinking and logic.
Step-by-step explanation:
The proper order of Piaget's stages of cognitive development, as identified by the Swiss psychologist, is sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational. The sensorimotor stage spans from birth to about 2 years old, where children learn about the world through senses and motor behavior. Next, the preoperational stage, from approximately 2 to 7 years old, is when children use symbols for words and ideas and engage in pretend play, yet they lack the ability for adult logic or conservation. Following this, the concrete operational stage occurs from about 7 to 11 years old, in which children can think logically about concrete events and understand mathematical operations and conservation. The final enumerated stage, the formal operational stage, which occurs from about age 11 onward, ushers in the ability to think abstractly, engage in hypothetical thinking, and perform advanced problem-solving.
It's worth noting that some developmental psychologists theorize a fifth stage, called postformal thought, where adults can integrate logic with emotion and make decisions based on context. However, this stage is beyond Piaget's original four stages.