What cognitive ability do children exhibit in the Preoperational stage?

In the Preoperational stage of cognitive development, which spans roughly from ages 2 to 7, children demonstrate egocentric thinking. This means they struggle to see things from perspectives other than their own. They tend to assume that everyone else shares their feelings and viewpoints, which reflects a limitation in their ability to understand that others may think or feel differently. This trait is a hallmark of early childhood cognition, as children in this stage often focus on their own experiences and seldom consider alternative perspectives.

While logical reasoning and abstract thinking are characteristics of later developmental stages, particularly the Concrete Operational and Formal Operational stages, egocentric thinking is pivotal in defining the Preoperational stage. Critical analysis is also beyond the scope of this stage, as children at this age are still developing foundational cognitive skills. Therefore, the identification of egocentric thinking as a key cognitive ability during the Preoperational stage properly highlights the developmental characteristics typical of children within this age group.