What age range corresponds with the Preoperational stage in Piaget's developmental theory?

The Preoperational stage in Piaget's developmental theory encompasses the age range from 2 to 7 years. During this stage, children begin to engage in symbolic play and learn to manipulate symbols, but they do not yet understand concrete logic. They are also developing memory and language skills, allowing for more advanced forms of communication and imaginative play.

Children in this stage are characterized by egocentrism, which is the difficulty in seeing situations from perspectives other than their own, and they often struggle with the concept of conservation, meaning they may not grasp that quantities remain the same despite changes in shape or arrangement.

This stage is crucial in setting the foundation for later cognitive development, as children start to engage with their environment in more complex ways, paving the way to the next stage, which is the Concrete Operational stage occurring from ages 7 to 11.