A nurse is conducting parenting classes for parents of children ranging in ages 2 to 7 years. The parents understand the term egocentrism when they indicate it means:

A) selfishness.
B) self-centeredness.
C) preferring to play alone.
D) unable to put self in another's place.

According to Piaget, children ages 2 to 7 years are in the preoperational stage of development. Children interpret objects and events not in terms of their general properties but in terms of their relationships or their use to them. This egocentrism does not allow children of this age to put themselves in another's place. Selfishness, self-centeredness, and preferring to play alone do not describe the concept of egocentricity.