lollipop logic

http://www.prufrock.com/productdetails.cfm?PC=472

There are several links that I’ve found to this product - some with old front covers (and varying prices) - but, my question is, have any of you tried this? I think I saw somewhere that DadDude has (would love to hear from him) but if there are others who have feedback, I’d love to hear it, as well.

It’s a book with activities that teach various logical strategies/skills designed for the pre/poor reader. I believe it is a parent AND child activity book - meaning the parent guides the discussion/activity while the child looks at the picture. I’m not sure if there are manipulatives that you need to dig up on your own, or if it is purely a book to look at. Near the back, I believe, there are some pencil paper activities.

I wouldn’t really recommend it to anyone, unless your child has a very weird, idiosyncratic interest in logic, which mine did only because he saw old logic texts on my bookshelves. I made him a logic presentation (never did post that one–there’s not much to it) and then he wanted more. I went to Amazon, was surprised to see a logic workbook for little kids, and then got the book because it wasn’t too expensive.

It’s basically simple logic puzzles of various kinds, similar to some problems found in simple math books. I believe it was written by a teacher of the gifted and is supposed to help such kids get smarter.

The only reason to get it, apart from our reasons, is that it might help train a child’s mind, a little more, to do things like spot similarities and put things in sequence order, etc. Frankly, I would be amazed if studying such books actually improved childrens’ ability to think logically. It certainly doesn’t teach them anything about the academic subject of logic. Such books are put out by Prufrock Press, which publishes books for “gifted” kids, and the books evidently appeal to parents and teachers who, probably mistakenly, believe that practicing logic in this way will sharpen their childrens’ already sharp minds.

So if I’m so down on it, why do we still do it? Well, it’s not hard, it’s quick, it’s somewhat entertaining, H. requests it, and OK, it might have some good effects. I think it might also be a good preparation for the easiest introductions to classical logic, like these:

http://www.amazon.com/Primarily-Logic-Judy-Leimbach/dp/1593631227/ref=pd_sim_b_7
http://www.amazon.com/Logic-Countdown-Bonnie-Risby/dp/1593630875/ref=pd_sim_b_2

I want H. to learn logic, the academic subject (not the mere preparation for intelligent tests), long before college. As a former logic teacher, I have come to believe that a study of classical and formal logic helps people to think in about the same way that the study of grammar helps people to write. It won’t greatly increase your ability to reason (or write grammatically) but it will help with harder problems, and it will help you understand what you’re doing when you reason (or write)–which are especially important for the more advanced and sophisticated sort of reasoning and writing.

Anyway, it’s better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick, but we certainly wouldn’t use it if my kid didn’t really like it.

DadDude,
I am very interested in knowing what type of curriculum books and programs you are using with Henry.

Could you post a topic or reply to this one since I am certain that many other parents want to know the very same thing!

Thanks,
Diana (mom of Ethan)

It’s nice of you to ask.

Have you seen these?

http://larrysanger.org/2011/06/update-about-the-boys-june-2011/

http://larrysanger.org/2011/03/chapter-books-h-and-i-read/

http://larrysanger.org/2011/02/update-about-the-boys-2011-02/

Or did you need a more recent update? Things haven’t changed that much since June.