The nurse is performing an annual check-up for an 8-year-old child. Compared to the previous assessment of this child, which characteristic would most likely be observed?

A. Displays of animism: Animism, attributing life-like qualities to inanimate objects, is a typical characteristic of the preoperational stage as children develop symbolic thinking.

B. Understanding of opposites: The ability to understand opposites, such as big/small, hot/cold, is a cognitive milestone of the preoperational stage as children develop classification skills.

C. Use of active imaginations: Pretend play and active imaginations are hallmark features of the preoperational stage, reflecting children's growing ability to engage in symbolic thought and fantasy play.

D. Beginning questioning of parents' values: Piaget's preoperational stage, which typically occurs between ages 2 and 7, is characterized by significant cognitive development, including language acquisition, symbolic thinking, and the ability to engage in pretend play. While children in this stage may question certain aspects of their environment and beliefs, they are less likely to engage in sophisticated questioning of abstract concepts like parental values.

A. "Do you participate in any sports?": This question directly addresses gross motor skills by inquiring about physical activities that involve large muscle groups and coordination, such as sports.

B. "Do you play any instruments?": While playing musical instruments may involve some coordination and motor skills, it primarily assesses fine motor skills rather than gross motor skills.

C. "Do you like to do puzzles?": Puzzles primarily assess cognitive skills rather than gross motor skills.

D. "Do you like to construct models?": Constructing models also primarily assesses fine motor skills and cognitive abilities rather than gross motor skills.