Jean Piaget and Stage Theory = Magical Toys
Jean Piaget, born August 9, 1896 in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, is best known for his work in childhood psychology, having identified four distinct stages of mental development in children.
Piaget studied zoology at the University of Neuchâtel, and received his Ph.D. in natural sciences in 1918. He died on September 16th, 1980 in Geneva, Switzerland. Piaget is most well-known for Stage Theory, the idea that children go through four distinct stages of development as they age. The four stages are sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete-operational, and formal-operational. The sensorimotor period, which spans from birth to two years of age, involves the coordination of sensory input and motor responses, as well as the development of object permanence. Stage two, the preoperational period, ranges from two to seven years of age, and involves the development of symbolic thought marked by irreversibility and egocentrism. Stage three, the concrete-operational period, is from seven to eleven years, and involves mental operations applied to concrete events, as well as mastery of conservation and hierarchical classification. The fourth and final stage, the formal operational period, ranges from age eleven to adulthood. It involves mental operations applied to abstract ideas, in addition to logical, systematic thinking.
Let’s take a look at each of the four stages, and a toy or game that represents what the child is capable of at that stage.
The sensorimotor stage is characterized by children using some of the skills and abilities they are born with — sight, sound, touch — in order to ascertain more information regarding their environment. They are gaining knowledge through their sensory and motor skills. Children also develop object permanence at this stage, which means “if mom hides the toy behind her back, it still exists even though I can no longer see it.” An example of a child’s toy that is perfect for this stage is the Oball, a plastic sphere with holes in it and attached clear plastic tubes and compartments filled with sparkly beads. This is a fantastic toy for the sensorimotor stage, as it allows children to use their senses — touch, hearing, and sight — as well as encouraging motor skills. The bright colors and small compartments that are filled with trinkets are visually entertaining and engaging, while functioning similarly to a rattle, allowing the child to engage their auditory skills. The ball is hollow and full of large holes, so the child is able to grasp the ball in many different positions and with many different levels of hand control. The Oball is a wonderful example of a “magic” toy for children in the sensorimotor stage.
The preoperational stage, occurring between ages two and seven and characterized by the manipulation of symbols and development of language, is the second stage in Piaget’s Stage Theory. Role-play is very important at this stage, as it allows children to experiment with symbolism and language. Plastic toy food and other toy kitchen equipment are fantastic toys for this stage. They provide a child with a wide range of activities, the most prevalent being preparing pretend “meals” in a fantasy kitchen. With these toys, a child is able to practice verbal skills, and use the plastic food to symbolize real food. Children at this stage do not yet understand conservation, or the idea that a certain quantity will remain the same, regardless of the container, shape, or apparent size. Thus, toy foods that can be split and put back together, such as this velcro toy pizza, are superb, as they demonstrate this concept clearly while allowing the child to learn through play. Another great toy for this stage is the board game Candyland, which employs symbols and counting.
The concrete-operational stage (ages seven to eleven) is the third stage of Piaget’s Stage Theory, and is distinguished by the development of logical thought. At this stage, children are fairly good at inductive, concrete reasoning. They also begin to understand conservation, or that a chocolate bar broken into smaller pierces is still the same amount of chocolate. The concrete-operational stage also serves as a transitional stage, wherein children learn how to think more abstractly. Games like Talking Battleship and Mastermind for Kids are excellent games for children at this stage, as they provide a logical challenge while remaining straightforward. Mastermind is a rather advanced code-breaking game; Mastermind for Kids is a simplified version of this game, complete with colorful animal-themed playing pieces. Battleship is similar in that it also involves breaking a code of sorts. Talking Battleship is essentially the same; however, it has a speech chip to give feedback and the coordinate entry system is much easier to manage, making it perfect for younger children who are still learning to read.
The formal operational stage is the fourth and final stage in Piaget’s Stage Theory of child development, starting at age 11 and lasting into adulthood. At this point, children are able to understand abstract concepts and use deductive reasoning. A child in the formal operational stage should be able to play and understand a myriad of games. This stage represents the culmination of a child’s growth, leading them into adulthood. A suitable toy for this stage is the board game Monopoly, as it requires reading and communication skills, as well as employing abstract concepts and deductive reasoning in the form of property trading and basic monetary transactions. There are many versions of Monopoly, such as Bugopoly and Monopoly: Dinosaur Edition, which may be more interesting to younger children.
Jean Piaget’s Stage Theory is crucial to understanding child development and selecting appropriate toys and games for children. From engaging basic sensory skills at the sensorimotor stage to understanding advanced abstract ideas, Piaget’s Stage Theory covers the entirety of childhood in detail while providing parents with helpful information to help them with their child’s successful upbringing.
