What does Piaget's cognitive development theory propose?

Piaget's cognitive development theory posits that children progress through four distinct and sequential stages of cognitive development: the sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational stages. Each stage represents a different way of thinking and understanding the world. According to Piaget, these stages are universal and occur in the same order for all children, though the age at which they may enter each stage can vary.

By proposing that cognitive development unfolds through structured stages, Piaget emphasizes that children actively construct their understanding through experiences and interactions with their environment. For instance, in the sensorimotor stage, infants learn about the world through their senses and motor actions, while in the formal operational stage, adolescents develop the ability to think abstractly and reason logically.

This perspective highlights the importance of developmental milestones and the idea that children are not merely passive recipients of knowledge but instead are active participants in their own learning processes, progressing through specific phases as they mature. This aspect of Piaget's theory serves as a foundation for understanding child development and informs educational practices that align with children's cognitive capabilities at each stage.