Sensory and motor skills affect children from birth to age 2. At this stage of a child's development, he focuses on two areas: sensory and motor skills. Young children learn from what messages their brain sends out regarding sensory and motor. Infants and toddlers respond best to play that focuses on enhancing both of these behaviors. Expect children at this age to recognize who their parents are by the third month, according to babycenter.com. Kids at this age learn what their favorite toy is and who their favorite people are. Your child gains the knowledge that he's different from the environment in which he exists.
The preoperational stage lasts from around the time your child says his first words to when she reaches 7. Children at this age can't tell time because they exist in present tense. Kids think as they fantasize, according to the Honolulu Community College. They think about what they want. For example, if a kid asks for a pony, he's thinking in fantasy terms because he isn't considering factors including cost, food and available land. Teach kids at this age with words spoken in neutral tones and allow them to touch animals, toys and books to learn about the environment.
The concrete phase lasts from about 6 until your child reaches adolescence. Children learn how to think rationally while in this cognitive phase. Let your child explain answers to questions, if they know it, to help them mentally process information.
The formal operations stage affects adolescent children. Teenagers can rationally think and come up with hypothetical answers to questions posed to them. They don't need a concrete object in front of them to complete a mental task. Expand on learning activities because, while in this age group, teens can process information at a faster rate than they could before reaching adolescence.