Which developmental theory is renowned for emphasizing cognitive development in children?

Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development is distinguished for its focus on the progression of children's cognitive abilities as they grow. Piaget proposed that children move through a series of stages, each characterized by increasingly complex levels of thinking. His framework outlines four primary stages: the sensorimotor stage, the preoperational stage, the concrete operational stage, and the formal operational stage.

Piaget’s theory emphasizes that children construct knowledge through their experiences and interactions with the world around them. Each stage of development involves different ways of thinking, problem-solving, and understanding the environment. This theory has been foundational in understanding how children learn and process information, distinguishing it within the realm of developmental psychology as specifically concerned with cognitive processes.