What is the name of the first substage of preoperational thought in Piaget's theory?

The first substage of preoperational thought in Piaget's theory is referred to as the symbolic function substage. This stage typically occurs between the ages of 2 and 4 years and is characterized by a child's emerging ability to use symbols, such as words and images, to represent objects and experiences. During this time, children begin to engage in symbolic play and imagination, wherein they can create scenarios and express their thoughts in ways that go beyond simple sensory experiences. They start to understand that symbols can stand for real-world items, which is a fundamental component of cognitive development, as it lays the groundwork for more complex thinking processes that will be refined in later stages.

In contrast, the intuitive thought substage occurs later in the preoperational stage, where children start asking questions and show curiosity but are still limited by their inability to perform operations mentally. The concrete operations substage follows the preoperational stage and involves logical thinking about concrete events, which is a further development. The reflexive substage does not exist within this framework, as it pertains to earlier stages of development focusing on instinctual responses.