Seven- to eleven-year-olds become more rational in their thinking.SensorimotorPreoperationalConcrete-OperationalFormal Operations

The transition in cognitive development from seven to eleven years in children aligns with Piaget's theory of cognitive development, specifically moving from the Preoperational stage to the Concrete Operational stage.

1. Cognitive Development Stages:

   • Sensorimotor (Birth to 2 years): In this stage, infants learn through sensory experiences and manipulating objects.
   • Preoperational (2 to 7 years): This stage is characterized by the development of language and imagination, but thinking is still intuitive and egocentric.
   • Concrete Operational (7 to 11 years): During this phase, children begin to think logically about concrete events. They gain a better understanding of the concept of conservation (the idea that quantity doesn't change even when its shape does) and can categorize objects and perform operations mentally.
   • Formal Operations (11 years and up): This stage includes the ability to think abstractly, reason logically, and plan systematically.

2. Transition to Concrete Operations:

   • Between the ages of 7 and 11, children start to think more rationally and logically about physical objects and events. They can understand the perspectives of others better and can operate mentally on tangible, concrete things rather than just using intuition.

In conclusion, as children progress from the Preoperational to the Concrete Operational stage, their ability to think logically and understand complex concepts improves significantly, which is crucial for their academic and personal development.