What characterizes children in the preoperational stage of Piaget's developmental theory?

Children in the preoperational stage of Piaget's developmental theory, which typically spans from ages 2 to 7, are characterized by their egocentrism and engaging in imaginative play. During this stage, children begin to use language and engage in symbolic thinking but struggle with understanding the perspectives of others. Egocentrism refers to the child's inability to see a situation from another person's viewpoint. This means that when a child is asked to consider how someone else might perceive a scenario, they often can only relate it to their own experiences.

Imaginative play flourishes during this stage, as children create stories and scenarios, imitating and exploring roles through play. This type of play is crucial for their cognitive development, allowing them to experiment with different ideas, learn about social roles, and express their creativity.

In contrast, the other characteristics presented in the other options pertain to later stages of cognitive development. The ability to solve abstract problems, develop logic and reasoning, and understand deductive reasoning emerge in the concrete operational and formal operational stages, indicating that option B authentically reflects the cognitive abilities typical of children in the preoperational stage.