Summarize Jean Piaget's stages of cognitive development and the major milestones accomplished at each stage

What will be an ideal response?

* In the sensorimotor stage, children learn about their environment through direct sensory contact and motor activities.
* The sensorimotor stage includes the development of object permanence.
* In the preoperational stage, children begin to think about objects that are not physically present and develop symbolic representation and egocentrism.
* In the concrete operational stage, children use mental representations to think about current objects and events and develop conservation but are not yet capable of abstract thought.
* In the formal operational stage, the individual is able to use symbolic representation in abstract thought, create and logically think through hypothetical situations. (See Study Chart: Stages of Cognitive Development).