What characteristic is associated with the Preoperational Stage of development?

The Preoperational Stage, as defined by Jean Piaget, spans from approximately ages 2 to 7 and is characterized by significant developments in language and symbolic thinking. During this stage, children begin to use language and images to represent their experiences, engaging in imaginative play and developing the ability to think about objects and events that are not immediately present. This characteristic of understanding through language and images is pivotal; it allows children to express their thoughts and ideas more clearly, although their reasoning is not yet logical or structured in the way it will be in later stages.

While logical thinking and empathy emerge in later stages of development, and abstract reasoning and hypothetical thinking are hallmarks of the Formal Operational Stage, the Preoperational Stage is specifically marked by the burgeoning use of symbolic thought. The use of senses to understand the world aligns more with the Sensorimotor Stage, which precedes the Preoperational Stage.