Abstract: Studied the development of analogical reasoning in three experimental conditions using causal materials, Ss were 42 children aged 4 to 5 years, 19 males and 23 females. Results indicated: on condition of possessing correspondent knowledge and experience, nearly all the 4 year olds and 5 year olds grasped analogical reasoning on one dimension; There was no significant difference between the 4 and 5 year olds in the one-dimension analogical reasoning, the 5 year olds were markedly superior to the 4 year olds in the two-dimension analogical reasoning; There was significant difference between the 4 and 4 5 year olds in the two-dimension analogical reasoning; 5.5 year olds were markedly superior to the 5 year olds, to some degree which reflected that the age of 4.5 to 5.5 is the "rapid development period" of analogical reasoning on two dimensions. "Exercise effect" was not discovered in the experiment.

Key words: child, analogical reasoning, dimension