A child who perceives the world only from their own point of view is described as what?

The concept of a child perceiving the world only from their own point of view aligns with the term "egocentric." This term is rooted in developmental psychology, particularly in the work of Jean Piaget, who described egocentrism as a characteristic of the preoperational stage of cognitive development. During this stage, which typically occurs from ages 2 to 7, children struggle to see things from perspectives other than their own. They assume that others share their feelings and thoughts, leading to a limited understanding of the viewpoints of others.

In this context, using "egocentric" to describe the child's perspective accurately captures the nature of their cognitive limitations at this stage, where they have not yet developed the ability to appreciate different viewpoints or understand that others may think or feel differently than they do. This term highlights a key developmental concept in understanding how children interact with the world as they grow and learn.