Need suggestions for Critical Thinking/Logic :)

[katnorman]

My DD hates Building Thinking Skills by The Critical Thinking Company. She says she already knows her shapes and how to color and she knows everything in it, as she's almost 7 :glare:. So, I'm wondering what other thinking/logic books are out there that kids enjoy. I've been looking at the miniluk, but would love some feedback on it. Thanks!!

[SnegurochkaL]

I suggest looking at Prufrock Press materials for gifted kids.

http://www.prufrock.com/showproducts.cfm?Step=1&FullCat=97

 

I am using Logic Safari and Logic Lift-off with my kids.

[KristenR]

My dd likes Lollipop Logic.

 

I also hear good things about Mind Benders and would like to try that out sometime.

[atozmom]

My ds LOVES Mind Benders. We only have a couple of pages left and then we will do Logic Safari.

[Paintedlady]

We're enjoying Mind Benders as well. I just ordered Perplexors, Venn Perplexors, and Grid Perlexors. Can't recommend them since we haven't tried them yet but have seen good reviews on them and might be worth a look.

[katnorman]

Thanks so much for the suggestions!! I am going to be looking at all of them :)

[Dmmetler]

Creative Thinking Company has a series called "Think a Minutes" which are a whole bunch of different types of logic/critical thinking activities, and then it says what series similar problems are found in. I've found that the mixed books go over MUCH better than any book focused on a single type or only a few types of questions (which is what we run into with Prufrock Press-I use the books, but my DD gets very frustrated with page after page after page of analogies or syllogisms).

 

There's a logic book on the Scholastic $1 downloads right now that I downloaded, but haven't printed yet that looks reasonably good, and the price is right :).

[veggiegal]

We use a lot of different logic / CT materials. I agree with you that CTC's large "Building Thinking Skills" is one of their weaker offerings. My kids much prefer some of their shorter books, like Mindbenders. Here's a rundown of what we have used and liked, with (hopefully helpful) notes:

 

From CTC:

 

- Mindbenders (typical grid-type logic problems)

- Balance Math and More (awesome way to practice addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. My 9 year old balks at worksheets, and LOVES these visual puzzles).

- Balance Math (visual algebra and logical reasoning)

- Math Analogies (math, but not focused on just addition et al. Covers many areas)

- Dr Dooriddles (reading, spelling, penmanship, associative reasoning; our family's very favourite)

- Can You Find Me? (visual answers to easy-to-read riddles for the pre-K crowd)

 

From Mindware:

- Analogy Challenges (starts pictorial, moves to words, has riddles within; we really like this one and it is easy for kids to do it largely independently)

- Logic Links (moving coloured dots around to match the 'clues' you are given. Good for spatial reasoning and kinesthetic learners)

- Perplexors (similar to grid-type logic puzzles, different format makes them easier for kids who prefer words to grids / charts)

- Math Perplexors (same as above but you have to use some math--typically the 4 operations--to solve. Much more wordy than the math titles from CTC)

- Venn Perplexors. (New to us this year; so far beginning level is just about understanding where different items would go in a venn diagram; second level is really neat and you must use math to label the diagram. Another of my older's fave ways to practice the 4 operations).

- Link Winks. (Similar to Dr Dooriddles: writing, spelling, associative reasoning. Have to find three rhyming words that match three different clues. New to my 9 year old this year who is almost done the Dr Dooriddles series).

 

Prufrock:

- Lollipop Logic. (Good in that it has a variety of problem types unlike just about everything else, but far too easy for my 6 year old. I'd say Pre-K to K, not K-2 as on the label).

- Logic Countdown. (Again, mix of problem types; new to us this year and it appears to be at about the right level for my 9 year old; maybe slightly easy. We will be continuing with this series).

- We also bought an analogy book from them this year, but haven't started it yet.

 

If you're wondering how we fit all this in, I use logic puzzles as 5-10 minute 'warm-ups' before math or language arts. The kids pick which book they feel like doing, and do a minimum of 2 pages. (Lollipop Logic is so easy my 6 year old is getting through 8-10 pages in the time big brother needs to do his two pages!). HTH.

 

BTW, we also used CTC's Think-a-Minute's which someone mentioned and it was pretty good: a wide variety of problem types. But it required a LOT of help from me to get my older (7 and 8 at the time) to work the problem. I prefer things kids can do more independently.