Piaget’s four

stages of
development
By Adam Kamal and Hossam
STAGE 1: Sensorimotor Stage (from birth to
2 years old)

The Sensorimotor stage is the name of the first stage and explains how babies
use their senses and movements.
When a baby is first born, they learn through their senses. At this stage babies
are unaware how objects react so they experiment by grabbing and throwing
things. This is learning through trial and error.
At around 6 months old, they learn that objects and people exist even when
they cannot see them. This is called object permanence, and shows that their
memory is starting to develop and their own personal schemas. They begin to
get a sense of themselves existing separately from the world.
 STAGE 2: Pre-operational Stage (2 to 7
years old)
This stage is divided into two separate stages, the symbolic function stage (age 2 to 4) and intuitive thought stage (4 to 7 years).
The Symbolic Function Stage (age 2 to 4) is the ability to think symbolically. During this stage children begin to understand objects,
words, people, places etc. Memory has been developed so that words can be remembered. Further to this, the use of objects are
now understood. This explains why children often use role play and imagination. They begin to pretend that objects represent
something else.
The Intuitive Thought Stage (age 4 to 7) is where beginning to reason starts. Children start to make comparisons. The reasoning at
this stage is simple, and is referred to as concrete thinking. At this early point of reasoning their ideas display centration. For
example a researcher takes a lump of clay, divides it into 2 equal pieces, and then gives a child the choice between two equal
pieces to play with. One is rolled into a compact ball The other into a flat pancake. As the flat pancake shape appears larger the
pre-operational child will choose that one, even though they exactly the same size. They cannot reason the two factors of size and
shape, only the size.
This reasoning develops during the following stage. While children are very egocentric they are beginning to reason and think
differently.
STAGE 3: Concrete operational stage (7 to 12 years old)
At this stage thinking becomes more
abstract as they learn to classify
(place items into groups of common
characteristics), Seriation (sort into
order, such as size) and conservation
(apply shape, weight, length etc).
Some very complex and abstract
ideas can still not be understood
meaning that they are slightly
concrete is their thinking at times.
Logical thinking and concrete
referencing develops from 7 to 11
years old.
Abstract Thinking (based on Concrete Thinking (based on
links and connections) what can be seen).
A table and chair are both part of a wider A table is a table and a chair is a chair.
group, called furniture. Even though
furniture is not an individual item which can
be seen.
A tall and wide glass of water have the same
amount of water, even though one appears
A tall glass appears to have more water
contained within compared to a wider
to be taller. glass.
Gas exchange takes place between the air in
the alveoli and the blood. However this is
You breathe in oxygen and breath out
Carbon Dioxide.
too abstract for the child.
STAGE 4: They are now mature adults, and they are thinking
Formal abstractly. They are also no longer egocentric, and
have increased Logic. Now people can apply
Operation complex ideas to explain concepts (e.g. the
biological process that occurs for gas exchange to
Stage (12 years take place between air in the alveoli and the blood
to explain our breathing). Multiple Solutions
old and People now have the ability to solve problems and
give multiple solutions. Can now plan for the
onwards) future. Adolescents and adults can have their own
logical opinions through hypothetical and abstract
thinking. They can think about moral,
philosophical, ethical, social and political issues
and give their own opinions.