According to Piaget's Cognitive Developmental Theory, which ability do children typically gain during middle childhood?

• A. The ability to form object permanence
• B. The ability to use abstract reasoning
• C. The ability to engage in pretend play
• D. The ability to think logically about concrete events

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand Piaget's stages of cognitive development, which include the Sensorimotor, Preoperational, Concrete Operational, and Formal Operational stages.
2. Identify the age range for middle childhood, which typically corresponds to the Concrete Operational stage (approximately 7 to 11 years old).
3. Recall the key cognitive abilities gained during the Concrete Operational stage, such as logical thinking about concrete events, understanding conservation, and classification skills.
4. Compare the options given: object permanence is usually developed in the Sensorimotor stage, pretend play is prominent in the Preoperational stage, and abstract reasoning emerges in the Formal Operational stage.
5. Conclude that the ability to think logically about concrete events is the hallmark cognitive skill developed during middle childhood according to Piaget's theory.