During which developmental stage do children begin to use abstract, logical thought?

The correct answer is the formal operational stage. During this stage, which typically begins around age 12 and continues into adulthood, children develop the ability to think abstractly and logically. They can manipulate ideas in their mind without the need for concrete physical experiences. This ability to engage in deductive reasoning and consider hypothetical situations marks a significant growth in cognitive development compared to earlier stages.

In contrast, during the preoperational stage, which occurs from about ages 2 to 7, children are still primarily engaged in egocentric and magical thinking, lacking the capacity for abstract reasoning. The concrete operational stage, which follows the preoperational stage and occurs from ages 7 to 11, involves more logical thinking, but still primarily in tangible and concrete terms. The sensorimotor stage, occurring from birth to about 2 years, focuses on infants understanding the world through their senses and actions, without the capability for logical thought.