At what stage do children first develop the ability to think abstractly, according to Piaget?

Children first develop the ability to think abstractly during the Formal Operational Stage, which Piaget identified as the final stage of cognitive development, occurring from approximately age 12 onward. In this stage, individuals gain the capacity for abstract reasoning and can formulate and test hypotheses. They can think logically about abstract concepts, such as justice or freedom, and engage in systematic planning and problem-solving.

During the Formal Operational Stage, children can consider multiple perspectives and think about possibilities that are not tied to concrete experiences. This marks a significant cognitive advancement from earlier stages, where thinking is more focused on tangible and observable phenomena. The ability to perform operations mentally without the need for physical manipulation signifies a leap in cognitive capabilities, setting the stage for more complex thought processes involved in higher education and adult reasoning.