At what age do children start using make-believe play, according to Piaget?

Children typically start engaging in make-believe play around the ages of 2 to 6 years, according to Piaget's theory of cognitive development. This period is part of the preoperational stage, during which children begin to use symbols and imagination in their play. They often mimic real-life scenarios, role-play, and create narratives, which helps them develop cognitive skills such as language and social understanding.

During this phase, children demonstrate an increased ability to think about things that are not immediately present, allowing them to invent scenarios and characters, which enhances their creativity and cognitive flexibility. This is integral to their development as it fosters social skills and emotional understanding. In contrast, the other age ranges mentioned do not correspond with this significant leap in cognitive and imaginative abilities outlined by Piaget. Birth to 1 year is more focused on sensorimotor exploration, while ages 1 to 2 lean towards basic symbolic thought, primarily through imitative play. The age range of 6 to 7 typically transitions into the concrete operational stage, where logical thinking becomes more predominant and make-believe play is often less frequent.