Your little brother has a big ball of clay. While he watches, you roll the ball of clay into a long snake-like shape. He begins to cry because he thinks he has less clay now. Which of Piaget's stages is your brother likely to be in?
A) sensorimotor
B) preoperational
C) formal operations
D) concrete operations

Question

Your little brother has a big ball of clay. While he watches, you roll the ball of clay into a long snake-like shape. He begins to cry because he thinks he has less clay now. Which of Piaget's stages is your brother likely to be in?
A) sensorimotor
B) preoperational 
C) formal operations
D) concrete operations

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Your brother's reaction indicates that he does not yet understand conservation, which is a hallmark of the preoperational stage according to Piaget's theory. Preschool-age children in this stage are likely to focus on the appearance of objects rather than their actual properties, which can lead to misunderstandings such as thinking that the amount of clay has changed simply because its shape has.

Your Little Brother Has a Big Ball of Clay