Ace the Human Growth and Development CLEP 2026 – Master Your Future, One Step at a Time!

Children develop abstract reasoning skills during the formal operational stage of development. At this stage, children are between the ages of 12-18 years old and are able to think logically and solve complex problems. They are also able to think about abstract concepts and make deductions based on logical reasoning.

Option A, concrete operational, is incorrect because this stage occurs between ages 7-12 and children focus on concrete and tangible ideas rather than abstract concepts.

Option B, preoperational, is also incorrect because it occurs between ages 2-7 and children at this stage are still largely egocentric and struggle with abstract thinking.

Option C, sensorimotor, is incorrect as this stage occurs from birth to age 2 and children are focused on exploring their environment through their senses and do not possess the cognitive abilities for abstract reasoning.

Therefore, the correct answer is option D, formal