Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development provides a framework for understanding children's developmental stages and how they acquire knowledge. At 18 months, Levi is in the Sensorimotor Stage, which spans from birth to about 2 years of age. This stage is characterized by the development of motor skills and the beginning of symbolic thought.

Here's how Piaget's theory relates to Levi's fine motor skills and behaviors:

Coordination of Secondary Circular Reactions (8-12 months):

• During this substage, infants begin to show intentional behaviors. Levi's participation in kitchen activities, like stirring and pouring milk with guidance, indicates he is coordinating actions to achieve specific goals, such as helping make food.

Tertiary Circular Reactions (12-18 months):

• This substage involves experimenting and exploring new possibilities. Levi's attempts to use a toy drill set and mimic his older brother by scribbling with crayons show his curiosity and experimentation with new tools and toys, demonstrating a trial-and-error approach.

Internalization of Schemas (18-24 months):

• Children begin to develop mental representations and engage in simple problem-solving. Levi's interest in creative activities, such as painting and manipulating Play-Doh, suggests he is transitioning into this substage with emerging symbolic thought, where he can mentally think through his actions and their effects.

Imitation and Observational Learning:

• Piaget noted the importance of imitation in learning during the sensorimotor stage. Levi's ability to mimic his brother and learn tasks through observation demonstrates this concept, as he learns by watching and copying the actions of others, which is a crucial part of cognitive development in this stage.

Limitations and Emerging Skills:

• Levi's difficulty with using children's scissors indicates that while he is developing fine motor skills, some of these skills are still emerging. This aligns with the expectations for his age range, as mastery of complex tasks takes time and practice.

Overall, Levi's behaviors and activities align well with Piaget's description of an 18-month-old's cognitive development. He is actively exploring his environment, imitating others, and beginning to show signs of developing symbolic thought processesall of which are indicative of healthy, normal development according to Piaget's theory.

Observation to support theory in paragraph