What stage is characterized by children's engagement in pretend play?

The correct answer is associated with the Preparatory Stage, which is often linked to the development of symbolic thinking and pretend play in early childhood. During this stage, typically occurring between the ages of 2 and 7, children begin to engage in imaginative activities, using objects to represent different things, which is fundamental to their cognitive development. This play allows children to explore their environment, develop narratives, and make sense of the world around them.

In contrast, the Concrete Operational Stage, which usually begins around age 7, is characterized by children gaining the ability to think logically about concrete events but not yet about abstract concepts. The Formal Operational Stage, starting around age 11, involves the capacity for abstract reasoning and problem-solving. The Sensorimotor Stage, occurring from birth to about age 2, focuses mainly on infants learning about the world through their senses and motor actions, with little engagement in pretend play. Thus, the Preparatory Stage is specifically marked by the emergence of pretend play as a critical aspect of children's developmental progression.