Four stages (in most versions of the model) - sensorimotor, pre-operations, concrete operations, and formal operations

In Piaget's view, development is a natural, spontaneous, and predictable process

• In other words, we advance through the stages like a set of stairs - always forward and up, never backwards, and never skipping a step

• The ages are flexible - some children might go faster or slower, but they will follow the same sequence or pattern

In Piaget's view, the progression through the stages is the result of the combination of the natural biological development of the brain and the learning experiences that we have

• Crucially, however, brain development must happen before learning

  • That is, we cannot develop skills from later stages because our brains are not ready to do that. Rather, once our brain develops enough for a particular stage, we are able to learn those skills. Then the cycle repeats

The stage you are currently in is defined by the skills that you are able to develop, based on your natural brain development

In other words, we don't really care what age you are! Rather, we look at the skills you currently have and the skills that you are able to grasp once we try them out

Each stage has a set of associated skills - keep in mind that those skills are what the child is able to learn during that stage, and not necessarily the skills they currently have!

Most stages also have a boundary skill, which represents a necessary (in Piaget's view) growth in order to reach that stage.

• For the pre-operations stage, for instance, the meaningful use of language is the boundary skill