What characteristic describes the concrete operational stage of cognitive development?

The concrete operational stage of cognitive development, as proposed by Jean Piaget, typically occurs between the ages of 7 and 11 years. During this stage, children begin to think logically about concrete events. They develop the ability to perform operations mentally rather than physically and can understand the concept of conservation, which means they realize that quantity doesn't change even when its shape does.

One of the hallmarks of this stage is that children demonstrate logical thought when it comes to tangible objects and events they can manipulate or directly observe. They can sort objects, understand relationships between different items, and solve problems in a way that is grounded in actual experience rather than abstract reasoning. This ability to think logically about physical objects marks a significant advancement in their cognitive skills.

In contrast, the other options reflect characteristics that either precede or follow this developmental stage. Limited awareness of cause and effect pertains more to earlier stages of development, while using symbols for reasoning usually aligns with the preoperational stage. Abstract thinking capabilities are characteristic of the formal operational stage, which comes after concrete operations. Thus, logical thought pertaining specifically to concrete objects defines the essence of the concrete operational stage.