What developmental stage encompasses children ages 2 to 7 who think symbolically?

The developmental stage that includes children ages 2 to 7 who think symbolically is indeed characterized as the Preoperational Stage. This stage, as described by psychologist Jean Piaget, is significant because it represents a time when children begin to engage in symbolic play and learn to manipulate symbols, such as words and images, to represent objects and experiences. They are beginning to use language to express thoughts and ideas, and they demonstrate an emerging ability to understand and create representations of the world around them.

During this stage, children are also marked by egocentrism, where they have difficulty seeing things from perspectives other than their own. However, the key aspect of the Preoperational Stage is the child's engagement in symbolic thinking, which is essential for cognitive development, setting the foundation for more complex forms of thought that will be developed in later stages.

The Industry vs. Inferiority Stage, part of Erik Erikson's psychosocial development theory, occurs later, around ages 6 to 12, focusing on children’s abilities to work with others and gain competence. The Concrete Operational Stage, occurring from approximately ages 7 to 11, is when logical reasoning begins to develop, allowing children to think about concrete events. Lastly, the Egocentric