At what age can children typically understand concrete concepts?

Children typically begin to understand concrete concepts around the age of 7 years old, aligning with the shift in cognitive development that occurs around this age. This age marks the transition from the preoperational stage, characterized by egocentrism and difficulty understanding others' perspectives, to the concrete operational stage as described by Piaget.

During the concrete operational stage, children can think logically about concrete events and are able to perform operations mentally rather than just physically. They can classify objects, understand the concept of conservation (that quantity does not change despite the shape or arrangement), and follow sequential steps in problem-solving. This advancement allows them to grasp more complex and abstract ideas as they grow older, but initially, their understanding is firmly rooted in tangible experiences and visible outcomes, making around 7 years old the key age for developing these skills.