What are the stages of Piaget's cognitive development in order?

The stages of Piaget's cognitive development are sequential phases that illustrate how children's thinking evolves as they grow. The correct order starts with the sensorimotor stage, which occurs from birth to about 2 years of age. During this stage, infants learn through their senses and actions, developing an understanding of the world around them through direct interaction.

Following the sensorimotor stage is the preoperational stage, which spans from approximately 2 to 7 years old. In this stage, children begin to use language and think symbolically, yet their reasoning is still intuitive and egocentric. They struggle with logic and understanding others' perspectives.

Next is the concrete operational stage, which occurs from around ages 7 to 11. At this point, children start to think logically about concrete events. They gain a better understanding of the concept of conservation—realizing that quantity doesn't change even when its shape does—and can perform operations mentally rather than just physically manipulating objects.

Finally, the formal operational stage, beginning around age 12 and continuing into adulthood, is characterized by the ability to think abstractly, reason logically, and use deductive reasoning. Individuals can formulate hypotheses and consider possibilities beyond concrete reality.

This order reflects Piaget's theory that cognitive development