Learning is a lifelong journey, but every journey starts somewhere.
Picking up learning at a young age can have a huge impact: 90% of a child’s brain development happens before age 5. Logical reasoning is one of those cornerstone abilities that strengthen future critical thinking.
Logical reasoning is the ability to arrive at a conclusion using a given set of rules. It is a type of problem-solving that we use in daily life.
Here’s why it’s important to develop logical reasoning skills for kids and a few ideas on how to get started.
Why is Logical Reasoning for Kids Important?
Logical thinking and deductive reasoning clearly matter for adults. Why are they so important for younger learners?
Essential to problem-solving.
Without logical reasoning, you won’t be able to draw rational conclusions from the evidence. Forming robust problem-solving skills early in life will help your kid overcome future challenges, no matter whether they are interpersonal, academic, or anything else.
Build a foundation for future learning.
Without understanding the logic behind specific topics, your child won’t be able to grasp why things work the way they do. For example, you can’t learn math just by memorizing numbers; understanding the logic behind equations, functions, and patterns is the real basis of mathematical skills.
With that being said, what are some examples of logical reasoning problems for kids?
Examples of logical reasoning for kids
No matter how old your kids are, they’ll run into situations where they might need deductive reasoning skills to solve problems. Here are some examples:
- Should I buy Legos or an action figure? Your kid wants to buy both a Lego set and an action figure, but they only have enough money to buy one of the two options. With deductive reasoning, they are able to draw the conclusion that a Lego set is the better choice because they enjoy building more than playing pretend and because they’ll be able to make more things from Legos.
- How do I get the snack? There’s a snack on a shelf too high for your child to reach. From experience, they know that they are too short to do this on their own, but that adults are tall enough to reach the top of the shelf. They ask a parent for help to grab the snack.
Although these examples may seem simple, they showcase critical thinking. Logical thinking and deductive reasoning for kids are important skills to grasp early for better problem-solving down the road. The ability to solve simpler issues is what will empower them to handle real-world problems.
How to Develop Logical Reasoning in Kids
So what’s the best way to develop logical reasoning? Here are a few ideas and best practices fo