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Abstract reasoning
Abstract learners make the leap from the real to the symbolic world easily, and soon work comfortably with printed language. Abstract reasoning skills can be stronger or weaker either verbally or non-verbally.
Children weak in abstract reasoning will be concrete learners, children who learn best with hands-on activities.
Verbal strengths in abstract reasoning allow the child to understand idioms ("raining cats and dogs," "up a tree"). He may get the point of jokes at an early age. Weak verbal reasoning skills will lead to more difficulty than he should have with idiomatic language. He may have trouble arguing his point in disagreements and thus resort to name-calling or fighting.
Strong non-verbal reasoning skills are shown when a child excels at activities like puzzles, Legos (tm) and Erector Sets(tm). Often such a child will be interested in tools at an early age. Some will take household items apart, like the two-year-old boy who removed all the lower kitchen cabinet doors from their hinges. (After that, he took his crib apart.) Sometimes these junior mechanics can put the dismantled items back together as well, but don't count on it! Children who show a weakness in non-verbal reasoning may have difficulty with some hands-on learning activities.
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