During which stage do children develop the ability to think logically about concrete events?

The concrete operational stage is the third stage in Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development, which typically occurs between the ages of 7 and 11 years. During this stage, children gain the ability to think logically about concrete events and understand the concept of conservation, which means they can recognize that quantity does not change even when its shape does.

This logical thinking is applied to tangible objects and activities that they can manipulate or visualize. Children begin to perform mental operations, such as sorting objects into different categories or understanding the relationship between various factors, making them capable of solving problems in a more systematic way. They can also think about perspective and recognize that others may have different viewpoints based on their experiences.

In contrast, the sensory-motor stage occurs from birth to about 2 years, where infants learn through their senses and actions. The preoperational stage, from ages 2 to 7, is characterized by symbolic thinking and egocentrism, where children struggle with logical reasoning about concrete situations. The formal operational stage, beginning around 11 years of age, allows for the development of abstract and hypothetical thinking, which goes beyond concrete events. Therefore, the concrete operational stage is specifically where logical thinking about concrete events is established.