What do Jean Piaget's developmental theories primarily explain?

Jean Piaget's developmental theories primarily explain how maturation, activity, and interpersonal experiences influence cognitive development. His theory outlines a series of stages through which children progress as they develop their cognitive abilities. Piaget proposed that children actively construct their understanding of the world as they interact with their environment, suggesting that both the biological maturation of the brain and experiences gained through activities and social interactions contribute to cognitive growth.

In his framework, Piaget identified four key stages of cognitive development: sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational. Each stage represents a different way of thinking and understanding the world, and children must reach a certain level of maturity to advance to the next stage. This interplay of maturation and experiences is fundamental to his perspective on how children learn and develop intellectually. Through this lens, educators can better understand and support children's learning by recognizing the importance of these developmental influences.