What Piaget stage is a child aged 3-6 years in?

The correct answer, which indicates that a child aged 3-6 years is in the Pre-operational stage, aligns with Piaget's theory of cognitive development. During this stage, which typically runs from ages 2 to 7, children begin to engage in symbolic play and learn to manipulate symbols, but they do not yet understand concrete logic.

At this age, children are characterized by egocentrism, meaning they struggle to see situations from perspectives other than their own. They also exhibit animism, where they attribute life and feelings to inanimate objects, and they have a strong imagination. This is a critical period for language development and imaginative play, reflecting their ability to form mental representations—an essential milestone in cognitive development.

The other stages mentioned, such as Concrete Operational, Formal Operations, and Sensory Motor, do not apply to the 3-6 year age group. The Concrete Operational stage, for example, begins around age 7 and involves logical thinking and mastery of the concept of conservation. The Formal Operations stage, which begins in adolescence, includes abstract and hypothetical thinking. The Sensory Motor stage, which is for infants up to about 2 years old, is focused on physical interaction with the world rather than symbolic representation