During which stage do children begin to think using symbols and mental images according to Piaget's theory?

In Piaget's theory of cognitive development, the stage during which children begin to think using symbols and mental images is the Preoperational stage. This stage typically occurs from ages 2 to 7 and is characterized by the emergence of symbolic thinking. Children in this stage start to use language to represent objects and ideas, engage in pretend play, and utilize symbols to represent their experiences and thoughts.

During the Preoperational stage, children are able to understand that words and images can stand for things. For example, a child may use a block to represent a car or may pretend that a toy doll is their baby. This demonstrates their ability to think abstractly and symbolically.

Additionally, the Preoperational stage also sees the development of egocentrism, where children struggle to see perspectives other than their own. This is contrasted with later stages, where logical reasoning and more complex forms of thought develop, such as the Concrete Operations stage, where children can think logically about concrete events, or the Formal Operations stage, where abstract reasoning becomes possible.

Understanding this developmental stage in Piaget's theory is vital for recognizing how children interpret the world around them and how they progress to more advanced cognitive functions over time.