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Logic Games for Kids

Logic is the study of reasoning and strategy. Unfortunately, it gets overlooked since other subjects such as math and reading tend to take first priority. What most people don't realize is that learning simple logic techniques, especially at a young age, will help with other areas of learning. There are many simple yet effective logic games that you can play with your kid,s and they won't even know that they are learning a fundamental life lesson.

Toddler Age
- There are many toys on the market today to help toddlers learn shapes, colors and textures. These games help young children build an important foundation that will help them further their logic skills as they learn to do things themselves. Some of these games include bean bag toss, building blocks and puzzles with large, three-dimensional shapes. The bean bag toss, which incorporates fabric and beads into one small object, introduces the toddler to texture, sound and motor-skill function as the bag is tossed. Building blocks, one of the most popular games among toddlers, help them to learn the process of building and making things look larger by adding things together. Three-dimensional puzzles using shapes is another popular game among toddlers. These puzzles usually have a large dome-like structure with cut-outs of different shapes. The toddler then takes the individually shaped pieces and figures out what opening they fit into. The piece is then shoved through the opening and lands on the inside of the structure.
Preschool Age
- Preschool-age children are ready to learn new logic skills that teach a greater understanding of reasoning and strategy. Games such as mazes, memory and tic-tac-toe begin to make sense for them as they play them over and over. Mazes can be done in a variety of ways. One way to do a maze is to draw a large, city-like picture with many streets, where some connect and others do not, using butcher paper or poster board. Then place a set of toy cars onto the picture and have your preschooler drive the cars from one end of the city to the next, without getting caught at a dead end. Memory is a game where your child will need to find matching objects by remembering where they are placed. This is a game that can be made at home using three-by-five cards, stickers or other drawings of two items. (Or the game can be purchased.) Tic-tac-toe is a simple game that can be played anywhere with just a piece of paper and a pencil. Kids have to learn to get three X's in a row or three O's in a row. The object is to keep the opponent from achieving three in a row. Tic-tac-toe is a simple game that teaches strategic moves.
Games for Older Kids
- For older kids, games such as Battleship, checkers and Scrabble all teach logic. These games are good exercises to keep the brain active and alert. Though these activities appear to be just games, they help teach reasoning and strategic skills, which in turn help with academic learning. Logic games like the ones mentioned above can be purchased at your local big box store or online from Amazon.com. There are also websites that offer free logic games--please visit the resources below for more information.

Kids Games