Why did Piaget believe young children need concrete and active learning experiences?

Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget emphasized that young children require concrete and active learning experiences because their cognitive development is tied to the physical manipulation of objects.1

During the concrete operational stage, which typically spans from age 7 to 12, children begin to develop logical reasoning and mathematical skills, but they are still limited in their ability to engage in pure, abstract thought. Piaget observed that children at this stage operate most effectively when they can interact with tangible items that can be physically manipulated. Because they have not yet reached the formal operational stage—where adolescents gain the ability to reason about hypothetical events and abstract theories—purely verbal or abstract instruction is often ineffective for younger children.21

Consequently, Piaget argued that teaching methods for children in these developmental stages must be active and grounded in concrete reality to support their cognitive development and concept formation.31