At what age range does the preoperational stage occur in Piaget's theory?

The preoperational stage in Piaget's theory of cognitive development occurs between the ages of 2 to 6 or 7 years. During this stage, children begin to engage in symbolic play and learn to manipulate symbols, but they do not yet understand concrete logic. Their thinking is characterized by egocentrism, where they struggle to see perspectives different from their own, and they are often focused on appearances rather than underlying principles. This is contrasted with the other stages of development: the sensorimotor stage occurs from birth to 2 years, the concrete operational stage from about 6 or 7 to 11 years, and the formal operational stage begins at 12 years and continues into adulthood. Understanding these stages helps in recognizing the cognitive abilities and limitations typical of children within each age range.