According to Jean Piaget, children ________ their understanding of the world?

The correct choice is that children construct their understanding of the world, as articulated by Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development. According to Piaget, children are not passive recipients of knowledge; instead, they actively engage with their environment. Through processes such as assimilation and accommodation, children build their understanding of concepts and the world around them.

This constructivist approach emphasizes that learning occurs through exploration, interaction, and the manipulation of objects and ideas. As children encounter new information, they integrate it into their existing knowledge framework, or schema, thereby adapting and refining their understanding. This active construction process highlights the importance of hands-on experiences and social interactions in early childhood education, as these experiences contribute significantly to cognitive development.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately reflect Piaget's perspective. The notion that children "discover" might imply that knowledge is merely found rather than constructed through active engagement. "Receive" suggests a passive absorption of information, which does not align with the dynamic nature of learning in Piaget's view. The term "inherit" implies that knowledge is passed down naturally without the child's active participation, which contradicts the idea that knowledge is built over time through experience and interaction. Therefore, the emphasis on construction is fundamental to understanding Piaget