ingful interactions and develop a deeper understanding of the world around them.
Children in the preoperational stage, according to Piaget's theory, begin to develop a rudimentary understanding of other people's thoughts, feelings, and perspectives. This development of theory of mind allows them to comprehend that others may have different beliefs or knowledge than they do. For example, a child might understand that their friend might be sad because they fell off the swing, even if they themselves are feeling happy at that moment.
It is during the preoperational stage that children start to grasp the concept of deception and understand that someone can hold a false belief about a situation. This newfound ability to attribute mental states to oneself and others is crucial for social interactions and relationships. Through engaging in pretend play and social interactions, children in this stage continue to refine their understanding of others' thoughts and emotions, setting the foundation for more complex social interactions in the future.