According to Piaget, what defines cognitive development in children?

Cognitive development in children, according to Piaget, is defined by the idea that learning occurs in distinct stages. Piaget proposed a theory that outlines a series of developmental stages—sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational—each characterized by different cognitive abilities and ways of thinking.

For instance, during the sensorimotor stage, which occurs from birth to about two years of age, children learn about the world through their senses and motor actions. As they progress to the preoperational stage (ages two to seven), they begin to use symbols and engage in imaginative play, but their thinking is still intuitive and not yet logical. These distinct stages indicate that children's cognitive abilities evolve over time, rather than developing linearly or being confined to a single stage.

Understanding cognitive development in this way provides a framework for educators and parents to encourage age-appropriate learning and activities that align with a child's cognitive abilities at each stage. This acknowledgment of distinct stages is fundamental to grasping Piaget’s contributions to developmental psychology.