On a rainy afternoon, 5-year-old Nathan had great fun building a pirate ship using the cushions from the couch and several kitchen chairs. Nathan's imaginary play reflects his capacity for _____, which is a characteristic of the _____ stage of cognitive development.

Question

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Nathan's imaginary play reflects his capacity for symbolic thought, which is a characteristic of the preoperational stage of cognitive development. This stage is generally seen in children between the ages of 2 and 7, and is marked by the development of symbolic thought, egocentrism, and an inability to understand conservation. Nathan's ability to use the cushions and chairs to create a pirate ship shows that he is able to use symbols to represent objects in his imagination.

On a Rainy Afternoon, 5-Year-Old Nathan Had Great Fun Building