Which is the correct order of Piaget's four cognitive development stages, from earliest to latest?

• A. Sensorimotor stage, Pre-operational stage, Concrete operations stage, Formal operations stage
• B. Pre-operational stage, Sensorimotor stage, Concrete operations stage, Formal operations stage
• C. Concrete operations stage, Sensorimotor stage, Pre-operational stage, Formal operations stage
• D. Formal operations stage, Sensorimotor stage, Pre-operational stage, Concrete operations stage

Answer: (A)

The sequence shows how thinking becomes increasingly sophisticated as children grow. The earliest stage is sensorimotor, lasting roughly from birth to age two, where learning happens through actions and sensory experiences and object permanence begins to appear. The next stage is pre-operational, about ages two to seven, where children start using symbols and language but think in a self-centered way and don’t yet handle logical operations like conservation. Then comes concrete operational, roughly ages seven to eleven, when logical thinking emerges about concrete objects and events, with understanding of conservation and reversible processes. The final stage is formal operational, beginning in adolescence, where abstract, hypothetical, and systematic thinking develops.

This order matches how abilities build on earlier experiences, so it is the only sequence that aligns with typical development. Other sequences would imply earlier emergence of abstract reasoning or logical operations before foundational sensorimotor or symbolic skills have formed, which doesn’t fit how cognitive growth actually unfolds.