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During the preoperational stage of cognitive development, which typically occurs between the ages of 2 and 7, egocentrism is a prominent characteristic. This is the stage where children are still developing their ability to see things from perspectives other than their own. They tend to view the world strictly through their own experiences and feelings, making it difficult for them to understand viewpoints that differ from theirs.

In this context, egocentrism manifests in the way children assume that others share their thoughts and feelings. For instance, a child might cover their eyes and believe that because they cannot see someone else, that person also cannot see them. This stage focuses on symbolic play and imagination, leading to a rich use of language and creativity, but it also presents limitations in logical reasoning, abstract thought, or operations based on concrete experiences. These limitations are fundamental to understanding the cognitive capabilities of children in this stage, making egocentrism a central focus during this development phase.