ABBABB or 1212: Abstract language facilitates children’s early patterning skills

Emerging research demonstrates a central role of early patterning skills in supporting cognitive development. This study focused on the labels used to describe patterns. Children (N = 90; Mage = 5.4 years) solved and explained 10 pattern abstraction tasks (i.e., recreated a model pattern using novel materials). Using a between-participants design, children were taught using one of four labels: letters (AAB, AAB), numbers (112, 112), quantitative...