Final answer:
In Piaget's theory, a symbol refers to any object, gesture, sign, or word that represents something larger than itself. Symbols help people understand and communicate about their experiences by conveying shared meanings.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Piaget's theory, a symbol refers to any object, gesture, sign, or word that represents something larger than itself. Symbols help people understand and communicate about their experiences by conveying shared meanings. For example, a country's flag is a symbol that represents the country, while a heart symbol represents love. In Piaget's theory, children in the preoperational stage (around 2 to 7 years old) can use symbols to represent words, images, and ideas, which is why they engage in pretend play.