Elijah is a 3-year-old little boy who likes to spread his peas and carrots all over his plate. After spreading out his food, he asks for more. His mom pushes all the food together and Elijah continues to eat. Which period of cognitive development is Elijah in?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Elijah's behavior suggests that he is in the preoperational stage of cognitive development, which is marked by egocentrism, a focus on appearance, and a lack of understanding of conservation. The fact that he spreads out his food without realizing that it still constitutes the same amount of food shows a lack of conservation skills. Additionally, his repeated requests for more food indicate that he does not fully understand the idea of quantity.

Elijah Is a 3-Year-Old Little Boy Who Likes to Spread