Final answer:
The symbolic thought sub-stage involves using language and symbols without the ability to perform logical operations, while the intuitive thought sub-stage is where a child asks many questions but still relies on intuition rather than logic.
Step-by-step explanation:
The difference in children's thought process between the symbolic thought sub-stage and the intuitive thought sub-stage is marked by developmental changes as described by psychologist Jean Piaget. During the symbolic thought sub-stage, which falls under the preoperational stage of cognitive development (approximately 2-7 years old), children begin to use language and symbols to represent objects, but they lack the ability to perform operations, which are mental actions that follow systematic rules. For instance, they may not grasp the concept of conservation, meaning they can be fooled into thinking quantity has changed when it has merely changed shape, as seen in Piaget's example of a child believing more pizza is present when it is cut into more pieces.
In contrast, during the intuitive thought sub-stage, children start to reveal their curiosity with frequent questions, such as "Why?" questions, but they still rely heavily on intuition rather than logic. Their thinking is characterized by a greater tendency to focus on single perceptual features and a difficulty in understanding the idea of reversibility or complex cause-and-effect relationships. Therefore, while symbolic thought signifies the beginning of using symbols and language, intuitive thought demonstrates the beginning of curiosity and the reliance on perception rather than logical reasoning.