What is the main focus of Piaget’s theory of cognitive development?

Piaget’s theory of cognitive development primarily emphasizes how children understand and interact with the world around them through distinct stages of cognitive growth. He proposed that children actively construct their understanding of the world through experiences and explorations, which shape their thinking processes. This focus on how children process information is central to his theory, as he categorized development into stages—sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational—each characterized by increasingly complex ways of thinking and reasoning.

In this framework, cognitive processes such as assimilation, accommodation, and schema development are crucial elements in understanding how children learn. Piaget’s work highlights that the progression of cognitive skills is not just about accumulating knowledge but involves fundamental changes in the way children think. By concentrating on the different ways children think and reason at various ages, the theory provides a comprehensive insight into cognitive development.