Logic games and thinking activities for kids
When rules change, children have to switch their thinking: today the order is different, in the game red is suddenly allowed, at school plus turns into minus. This switching is called mental flexibility. Kids with ADHD often find it hard to brake a familiar answer and apply a new rule.
The 5 logic games in this area practice exactly that: showing the other color on “yellow”, always doing the opposite, remembering connections between dots or working through a spiral by color rules. They suit children from age 5 and take 3 to 6 minutes.
4 games come with a printable template, some need yarn or buttons. The Opposite Game needs no materials at all. Start slowly, because the conflict between rule and habit is already the training.
Understanding rules and switching are among the skills that can be strengthened through practice in children. Now and then, let your child invent a rule and quiz you. The games are practice and time together, not therapy.
Source: Diamond & Lee 2011, Science
Which age fits
- Preschool (ages 3 to 4)The logic games start at age 5. With younger kids, you can try The Opposite Game with just two opposites, for example loud and quiet. If it doesn't work yet, that is completely normal at this age.
- Kindergarten (age 5)Now Wrong Color, Action Spiral and The Opposite Game fit well. In all three, your child briefly holds back a familiar answer. Plan time for laughter, because mix-ups are part of it.
- Elementary school (ages 6 to 10)School-age kids enjoy Connect the Colors and Card Match, where they need to plan and remember more. Older kids like explaining the rules to younger siblings and then make sure the rules are followed.
The exercises
- 8Wrong ColorYou call a color, your child shows the other color that goes with it.
- 9Action SpiralEach color stands for a movement. Work the spiral from outside in.
- 18Connect the ColorsFull instructions in the printable packRemember the connections between dots and rebuild them on the empty board.
- 19Card MatchFull instructions in the printable packCompare dot cards, describe them and read them backwards.
- 24The Opposite GameFull instructions in the printable packYour child always does the exact opposite of what you say.
Which activity when
| Situation | Matching activities |
|---|---|
| When your child loves making and breaking rules | The Opposite Game, Wrong Color |
| For movement that also takes some thinking | Action Spiral |
| Quiet time at the table with planning and remembering | Connect the Colors, Card Match |
| On the go or in between, no materials | The Opposite Game |
Frequently asked questions
Are the logic games harder than the other exercises?
Some have a higher minimum age, which is shown on each game. Start with the Opposite Game: it needs no materials and is quick to explain.
What do logic games practice in kids?
Mainly understanding rules, switching between rules and spotting patterns. Researchers count these among the executive functions. A review by Diamond and Lee describes that they can be strengthened in children through regular practice.
My child gets angry quickly with the rules. What can I do?
Make the rule simpler and the pace slower. A mistake only shows how hard switching is right now. Stop after a round that went well rather than after one that went wrong.
Which logic games work without materials?
The Opposite Game needs nothing at all. For Wrong Color, Action Spiral and Card Match you need a printout, and for Connect the Colors also some yarn.