What is a characteristic of the preoperational stage of Piaget’s theory?

The preoperational stage, as outlined by Piaget, typically occurs between the ages of 2 and 7 years and is characterized by the development of symbolic thought. During this stage, children begin to use symbols such as words and images to represent objects and experiences, which is where symbolic play comes into play.

In symbolic play, children engage in imaginative activities that involve them taking on roles or creating scenarios that may not be directly tied to the real world. For example, a child might use a block as a phone or engage in pretending to cook using toy kitchen items. This ability to represent aspects of their world symbolically is a core feature of the preoperational stage.

On the other hand, the other options represent characteristics that are not typical of this developmental period. Abstract thinking, concrete logic, and scientific reasoning develop later in Piaget's stages, specifically during the formal operational stage and, to some extent, the concrete operational stage. Thus, the correct choice highlights the key advancement in children's cognitive abilities during the preoperational stage.