How many stages of cognitive development did Piaget identify?

Piaget identified four distinct stages of cognitive development, each characterized by different ways of thinking and understanding the world. These stages are the sensorimotor stage, which spans from birth to about two years and involves learning through sensory experiences and motor actions; the preoperational stage, from about two to seven years, where children begin to think symbolically and use language, but do not yet understand concrete logic; the concrete operational stage, from about seven to eleven years, where children start to think more logically and understand the concept of conservation; and finally, the formal operational stage, from around eleven years and beyond, which involves the ability to think abstractly and reason systematically.

Understanding these stages helps in recognizing how children develop cognitively as they grow, allowing educators and parents to better support their learning and development. The identification of four stages emphasizes that cognitive growth is a progressive and structured process, rather than a simple, linear one. This underscores the complexity of child development and the importance of providing age-appropriate learning experiences that align with the cognitive abilities characteristic of each stage.