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
The exercises
- 14Color LogicRemember the connections between dots and rebuild them on the empty board.
- 15Dot MirrorCompare cards, describe them, and rebuild them mirrored.
- 17Wrong ColorYou call a color, your child shows the other color that goes with it.
- 18Action SpiralEach color stands for a movement. Work the spiral from outside in.
- 23The Opposite GameYour child always does the exact opposite of what you say.
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.