When explaining the circumstances of a tragic event to a child who is at the pre-operational stage in Piaget's stage theory of cognitive development, a school social worker should keep in mind that ...

• A. The child cannot think abstractly, and needs a clear, concrete explanation of the circumstances
• B. The child has completed all stages of cognitive development, and it would be appropriate and effective to use metaphors to explain the situation
• C. The child has probably not acquired any language skills yet
• D. It may be helpful to ask the child to write a poem or story to express his or her feelings about the tragedy

Answer: (A)

Concrete, literal thinking characterizes the pre-operational stage, so when explaining a tragedy to a child at this level the best approach is to give a clear, concrete explanation in simple terms and provide reassurance. At this age, children think in the here-and-now, take things literally, and struggle with abstract ideas or multiple perspectives. They benefit from direct facts rather than metaphorical language or hypothetical scenarios.

Explain what happened in straightforward terms and use language that the child can grasp. For example, say what occurred in concrete terms, acknowledge that the situation is sad, and reassure the child that caregivers will take care of them. Invite questions and respond honestly but without overwhelming detail, keeping explanations age-appropriate and steady.

Metaphors or abstract reasoning are not well understood at this stage, so relying on symbolic explanations would likely confuse the child. If someone suggests that the child has completed all cognitive stages or that the child should write a poem or story to express feelings, those approaches don’t fit this stage’s capabilities. The emphasis here is on a direct, concrete conveyance of what happened and ongoing support, rather than advanced expressive tasks.