As a developmental psychologist, I specialize in the study of cognitive growth and the various stages that children go through as they mature. One of the most significant stages in this journey is the concrete operational stage, which is a concept that was first introduced by the Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget.

The concrete operational stage is the third phase in Piaget's theory of cognitive development, following the preoperational stage and preceding the formal operational stage. This stage typically begins around the age of 7 and continues until adolescence, around 11 or 12 years old. It is a period of significant change in a child's cognitive abilities, where they start to think logically about the physical world and concrete problems.

During this stage, children develop the ability to perform operations on objects, which Piaget referred to as "operations." These operations are internalized mental actions that children can perform on objects in their mind, such as classifying, ordering, and seriating. They are no longer limited to thinking about things only as they appear in the moment, which was characteristic of the preoperational stage.

A key aspect of the concrete operational stage is the development of conservation. Children at this stage understand that certain properties of objects remain the same even when their appearance changes. For example, they grasp that the amount of liquid in a tall, thin glass is the same as in a short, wide glass, despite the difference in shape.

Another important development is the ability to think logically about concrete problems, which means that children can systematically apply rules to solve problems. They can also engage in decentration, moving away from a focus on a single aspect of a situation to considering multiple aspects simultaneously.

However, it's important to note that while children in the concrete operational stage are becoming more logical, they are still limited to thinking about concrete and specific things. They have not yet developed the ability to think abstractly, which is a characteristic of the formal operational stage that follows.

In summary, the concrete operational stage is a critical period in a child's cognitive development where they begin to apply logic to the physical world and concrete problems, but their thinking is still grounded in the tangible and observable.

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The concrete operational stage is the third Piaget's theory of cognitive development. This period spans the time of middle childhood and is characterized by the development of logical thought. While kids at this age become more logical about concrete and specific things, they still struggle with abstract ideas.Mar 9, 2018read more >>