What development skill is associated with the ability to categorize objects by shape rather than color?

Classification is the skill that involves organizing objects based on their attributes, such as shape, size, or other characteristics. When a child can categorize objects by shape instead of color, it demonstrates their ability to understand and apply the concept of classification. This skill typically develops in early childhood, as children begin to make distinctions between different features of objects, enabling them to group items that share similar properties.

In contrast to classification, seriation involves arranging objects in a particular order based on a specific criterion, such as size or number. Conservation refers to a child's understanding that certain properties of objects remain the same even when their forms change, while egocentrism is the inability to see a situation from another person's perspective. Understanding these distinctions highlights why classification is the correct answer in this context.