Cognitive development is the progression of thinking, problem-solving, and understanding over a lifetime. It's closely associated with how we acquire knowledge and how our mental processes evolve.
Infants start with basic cognitive abilities and, through stages, develop more complex understanding. This process includes:
- Sensorimotor stage: From birth to 2 years, learning occurs through sensory experiences and manipulating objects.
- Preoperational stage: Ages 2 to 7, characterized by the development of language and symbolic thinking yet lacks logical reasoning.
- Concrete operational stage: Ages 7 to 11, thinking becomes more logical and organized, but still concrete.
- Formal operational stage: Begins at age 12 and continues into adulthood, where abstract thought and problem-solving skills are honed.
Each cognitive development stage builds upon the previous one, enabling a deeper understanding of the world.