Abstract art is not about telling standard stories. Rather, it is a kind of meta-art or art about art. It is an examination of specific issues, such as color or shape, and many other things. So, to a person expecting a pretty picture or a standard story, it won’t mean much. However, if you see things a little more inclusively, then you can see stories about paint or shape, or texture.
Often these stories have a lot of theory behind them. So it becomes an experiment in the way the various elements of art work. Sometimes these stories can be understandable just by looking, being open, and feeling. Sometimes you need to understand the concept in order to get what the artist was going after.
While it can look like child’s play, it’s really adult play. Kids may be trying to make pictures that make sense to them. An adult is messing with your head—sometimes pleasantly, and other times not so much.