At what stage do children start to think conceptually in the cognitive model?

In the context of cognitive development, children begin to think conceptually during the stage commonly associated with the ages of 2 to 7 years, known as the Preoperational stage, according to Piaget's theory. During this stage, children start to engage in symbolic play and learn to manipulate symbols, which is where conceptual thinking begins to emerge. They begin to understand the use of language and can represent objects with words and images, although their thinking is still intuitive and egocentric, meaning they struggle to see perspectives other than their own.

Conceptual thinking in this stage allows children to organize their thoughts around symbols but is still limited by their lack of logical reasoning abilities. As they progress, they start to understand more complex concepts. Other stages, such as the Concrete Operational stage (typically ages 7-11) and the Formal Operational stage (ages 11 and above), represent advancements in cognitive abilities, allowing for more sophisticated logical reasoning and abstract thinking, but the onset of conceptual thought primarily occurs in the Preoperational stage.