What is the second stage of Piaget's cognitive development theory?

In Piaget's theory of cognitive development, the second stage is indeed the pre-operational stage, which typically occurs from ages 2 to 7. During this stage, children begin to use language and think symbolically, yet their thinking is still intuitive and egocentric. They start to engage in imaginative play and develop memory and imagination but struggle with understanding the perspectives of others.

At this point, children have not yet mastered the concept of conservation—the understanding that quantity does not change despite changes in shape or arrangement. Their cognitive processes are not fully logical, which differentiates this stage from the subsequent concrete operational stage, where logical thinking and the ability to perform operations mentally begin to develop.

The other stages mentioned—sensorimotor, concrete operational, and formal operational—represent different aspects of cognitive growth either preceding or following the pre-operational stage. Thus, pre-operational is a critical stage where foundational cognitive shifts begin to occur, setting the stage for more advanced thinking in later stages.