According to Jean Piaget, what does cognitive development involve?

Cognitive development, as described by Jean Piaget, involves the progression through various thinking stages. Piaget proposed that children develop their thinking abilities in a series of distinct stages, each characterized by different ways of understanding and interacting with the world. These stages—sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational—illustrate how children's cognitive processes evolve over time, allowing them to grasp more complex concepts as they grow.

This view emphasizes that cognitive abilities are not just acquired in a linear fashion but instead involve significant qualitative changes in how children think and perceive their environments at different ages. As they transition from one stage to the next, children demonstrate more advanced reasoning, logic, and problem-solving skills, showcasing the importance of developmental milestones in cognitive growth. Each stage lays the foundation for the next, making the understanding of these stages crucial for educators and psychologists in addressing children's needs effectively.