At what stage do children begin using words and symbols as part of their reasoning?

During the preoperational stage, which typically occurs between the ages of 2 and 7 years, children begin to engage in symbolic thinking. This is a crucial period when they start to use words, images, and symbols to represent objects and experiences. Their ability to think about things in terms of symbols allows them to engage in imaginative play, form narratives, and develop early reasoning skills.

Children in this stage use language to express their thoughts and feelings, enabling more sophisticated interactions with their environment. For instance, a child may use a block to represent a phone or pretend that a doll is a person with emotions and experiences. This symbolic play is fundamental for cognitive development, as it reflects their growing understanding of the world around them and enhances their problem-solving capabilities.

In contrast, the other stages have different focuses. For example, the sensorimotor stage emphasizes learning through direct sensory and motor experiences, while the formal operational stage, which occurs later, involves more abstract and hypothetical reasoning. The concrete operational stage, which follows the preoperational stage, is characterized by more logical thinking but still relies on concrete examples rather than abstract symbolism. Thus, the preoperational stage is distinctly where the use of words and symbols begins to play a significant role in children's