Piaget's Cognitive Development Theory Piaget argued that children's cognitive development occurs in stages (Papalia & Feldman, 2011). Specifically, he posited that as children's thinking develops from one stage to the next, their behavior also changes, reflecting these cognitive developments. The stages in his theory follow a specific order, and each subsequent stage only occurs after the one before it. These stages are: Sensorimotor stage (0-2 years old) Preoperational stage (2-7 years old) Concrete operational stage (7-11 years old) Formal operational stage (11 years old through adulthood) 1. The Sensorimotor Stage The sensorimotor stage is the first phase of children's cognitive development. During this stage, children primarily learn about their environment through their senses and motor activities. 10 MINUTE OIL CHANGE Now Offering Appointments Take 5 Oil Change Moore 7AM-7PM The sensorimotor stage comprises six substages, where children's behavior moves from being reflex driven to more abstract. Each substage is described briefly. 1. Use of reflexes (0-2 months) During this stage, children typically use their reflexes. They cannot consolidate information from their sensory organs into a single, unified concept. 2. Primary circular reactions (1-4 months) Children start to consolidate information from different sensory organs. They start to engage in behavior that satisfies the way their body feels or their needs. For example, they repeat pleasurable behaviors, and they adapt their behavior to feed from different objects. They turn to respond to sounds and sights in their environment. 3. Secondary circular reactions (4-8 months)