In which developmental stage do children begin to handle abstract thinking and logical reasoning?

The correct answer is the formal operational stage, which typically emerges around age 11 and continues into adulthood. During this stage, individuals begin to think abstractly and engage in logical reasoning. They can formulate and test hypotheses, think about possibilities and ideals, and use deductive reasoning to solve problems. This cognitive development allows them to understand complex concepts that are not directly tied to concrete experiences or visual representations.

In contrast, the earlier stages focus on more tangible and direct forms of thinking. The sensorimotor stage is characterized by infants learning through sensory experiences and physical interactions with the world around them. The preoperational stage, which follows, involves children using symbols to represent objects but is limited to concrete thinking—meaning they struggle with understanding abstract concepts and may exhibit egocentric thinking. The concrete operational stage introduces logical thinking but is still tied to concrete situations and tangible objects. It is only in the formal operational stage that abstract thought and logical reasoning become prominent.