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In Piaget’s theory, a 10-year-old is developmentally expected to be in the concrete operational stage (ages 7–11). At this level, children begin to think logically about concrete events, but abstract reasoning is still limited. Magical thinking (such as believing a deceased parent will “come back tomorrow”) is characteristic of earlier stages, particularly the preoperational stage (ages 2–7). However, under stress or grief, children in the concrete stage may regress temporarily and display earlier cognitive patterns. This is common in bereavement when denial serves as a defense mechanism. Social workers must assess not only cognitive development but also grief responses, family context, and cultural factors that shape expressions of loss. In practice, the social worker should validate the child’s feelings, use developmentally appropriate grief interventions, and support gradual understanding of death as permanent. Recognizing developmental stage helps in choosing interventions that support resilience, coping, and healthy adjustment.