The "Preoperational" stage is the second phase in Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development, typically occurring between ages 2 and 7. During this stage, children begin to engage in symbolic play and learn to manipulate symbols, but they do not yet understand concrete logic. Their thinking is intuitive and egocentric, meaning they often struggle to see things from perspectives other than their own. Children in the preoperational stage also exhibit animism, attributing human-like qualities to inanimate objects. They may engage in imaginative play, using their creativity to create scenarios and stories. However, they often have difficulty with concepts such as conservation, which is the understanding that quantity does not change even when its shape does.