What key concept is associated with Jean Piaget's Cognitive Development theory?

Jean Piaget's Cognitive Development theory is fundamentally centered around the concept of the stages of cognitive development in children. Piaget posited that children progress through a series of distinct stages that reflect different ways of thinking and understanding the world around them. These stages are: sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational. Each stage represents a significant transformation in how children process information, solve problems, and relate to their environment.

This concept illustrates that cognitive development is not a gradual accumulation of knowledge but rather a process characterized by qualitative changes in thinking. For instance, during the sensorimotor stage, infants learn through sensory experiences and motor actions, while in the formal operational stage, adolescents can think abstractly and hypothetically. Understanding the stages helps educators and psychologists develop age-appropriate learning methods and interventions that align with the cognitive abilities of children at various developmental levels.