Which represents the correct order of Piaget's stages of intellectual development?

Piaget's theory of cognitive development outlines a sequence of stages that children progress through as they develop their intellectual abilities. The correct order is fundamental to understanding how cognitive skills evolve.

The sensorimotor stage occurs first, from birth to about 2 years old, where infants learn about the world through their senses and motor activities. This stage is characterized by exploration and the foundation of object permanence.

Next is the preoperational stage, from about 2 to 7 years old, where children begin to use language and think symbolically but lack the ability to perform operations mentally. Their thinking is intuitive and egocentric, meaning they have difficulty viewing things from perspectives other than their own.

Following this is the concrete operational stage, which spans ages 7 to 11. In this phase, children gain a better understanding of the concept of conservation and can think logically about concrete events, but they still struggle with abstract or hypothetical concepts.

Finally, the formal operational stage begins around age 12 and continues into adulthood. This stage is marked by the ability to think abstractly and logically, enabling adolescents to formulate hypotheses and think about theoretical possibilities.

Recognizing and internalizing this proper sequence is crucial for anyone studying childhood development, as each stage builds upon the last