NURS 6501: Final Exam: Please contact Assignment Samurai for help with NURS 6501: Final Exam or any other assignment. Email: assignmentsamurai@gmail.com A 3-year-old child is observed during a clinic visit engaging in make-believe play and demonstrates symbolic thought. According to Jean Piaget’s stages of cognitive development, which stage is the child most likely in? Group of answer choices

• Formal operational stage
• Concrete operational stage
• Preoperational stage
• Sensorimotor stage

The correct answer is: Preoperational stage   Explanation: According to Jean Piaget's stages of cognitive development, the preoperational stage (ages 2 to 7 years) is characterized by:

• Symbolic thought (using words, images, and pretend play to represent objects).
• Make-believe play (engaging in imaginative and fantasy activities).
• Egocentrism (difficulty seeing others' perspectives).

The other stages are:

• Sensorimotor stage (0–2 years): Infants learn through sensory experiences and motor actions (no symbolic thought yet).
• Concrete operational stage (7–11 years): Children develop logical thinking about concrete events but struggle with abstract concepts.
• Formal operational stage (12+ years): Abstract and hypothetical thinking emerges.

Since the child is 3 years old and engaging in make-believe play and symbolic thought, they are in the preoperational stage.