Top Brands: Sphero - Wonder Workshop - Makeblock - Amazon Kids
BLACK FRIDAY: Amazon Fire Kids Pro 10"
BLACK FRIDAY: Amazon Fire Kids Pro 10"
NEWS$show=/search/label/news
Here's where you'll find all the latest news about technology for children. We love to follow cool new inventions on Kickstarter and we hunt out all the latest announcements about tech toys and gadgets for the coming Christmas holidays. You'll also get our take on children's technology stories in the media.
REVIEWS$show=/search/label/review
Our kids technology product reviews are intended to help you work out whether a toy, gadget or kit is a good fit for your child or family.
There's lots of cool stuff available, but is it the right choice for the child or teenager that you are buying for?
We'll help you make the right choices and get the best value for money.
GIFT GUIDES$show=/search/label/gift%20guide
Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and friends assemble. We create gift lists to help you make good choices for kids technology which helps them develop the right skills for the future. We research the best in Coding Toys and Games, Making / Craft Tools and Kits, STEM/STEAM related gifts, Programmable Robots, Electronics Kits and Gadgets for Tech Age Kids and Teens.
PROJECTS$show=/search/label/project
Get crafty with technology. Here we'll post all our ideas and projects using technology to get creative and making with kids. You'll find anything from making a lemon battery to a glow-in-the-dark Minecraft sword. Our projects are tried and tested on our own kids or at events we run, so we are sure you can have a go at home with your kids. Some of our projects use specific tech gadgets which we provide links for you to purchase.
STEM$show=/search/label/stem
STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. In recent years there is an increased focus in these areas of study. We like to include Art and Design too, so we often talk about STEAM (A stands for Art). At Tech Age Kids we believe Coding is a new literacy and children need to understand how technology works, practice making skills and grow in their curiosity to make a better future for us all.
CODING$show=/search/label/coding
Coding is increasingly being recognised as an important skill for children to learn. Some will learn to code at school or at a coding club, but it's brilliant if they get support at home too.
ELECTRONICS$show=/search/label/electronics
We think it's really important for kids to get hands-on with electronics and learn how to make circuits and write code to control hardware.
Younger kids can start with conductive playdough. For kids who like to combine craft and tech, littleBits are fab. And we love SAM Labs wireless electronics components for making it easy for kids to make Internet of Things inventions.
Lots of electronics kits for kids have support for the Arduino microprocessor environment. The DuinoKit Jr is one of our favourites. Arduino is a fab skill for older kids and teens to develop.
ROBOTICS$show=/search/label/robotics
We love robots at Tech Age Kids, especially programmable ones. We've got lots of them and write reviews and projects that use them.
Our programmable robots for kids buying guide is a good place to start if you're not sure what's available.
Roby the mBot Meccano robot dog is one of our popular projects and has been with us to lots of events. Our Ozobot LEGO trailer is fab for kids who love LEGO and robots.
MAKING AND CRAFT$show=/search/label/making
We're advocates of the creative use of technology, but this needs to be balanced with developing physical skills such as papercraft, woodwork, clay modelling, technical drawing and soldering. If children don't develop these skills as they grow up then physical making projects can become frustrating rather than fun.
The Maker Community uses the term 'making' as a broad term to include all sorts of artisan skills or craft activities. Being able to make things can lead to life-long hobbies or even careers. It's a great feeling to be able to take a project from an idea in your head to a real object that does something.
We're particularly interested to explore products that combine maker skills with tech skills such as electronics but others focus purely on the physical making skills that are still important to modern making.
We hear (and say!) a lot about the important of kids learning to code. But coding isn't the only way to develop kids' skills for a future in computing. I would actually say that logical thinking is more useful than the specifics of coding.
Coding is a good way to develop logical thinking (so don't stop doing that!) but it's not the only way and there's definitely benefit to spending time on other activities. I've spent a lot of time learning about logical thinking as a child before I had access to computers. I had no idea that it was just the right thing for a future computer scientist to be doing, but it was.
I've put together my thoughts on the importance of logical thinking and some of our favourite games and puzzles that help develop logical thinking. We'll cover apps for logical reasoning in future, but it's good to have some screenless activities that develop tech skills.
More board games that develop STEM skills:
Logical thinking enables us to develop computer systems. Computers are only able to think logically, though with increasingly sophisticated logic, we need to be able think logically in order to get the best from computers.
Lots of board games have an element of logical thinking to them, especially strategy games such as chess.
But each move changes the board as players can slide rows and columns. You have to be able to think through the full impact of any move you make as several pieces will move at once and change the paths that are open to you.
This really makes your brain work. It's also a game where you find yourself thinking through the implications of other players moves (and their impact on them and you) so you're not sat doing nothing in between turns.
There's not always someone else around to play a board game with so it's good to have some one player puzzles too.
IQ FIT by Smart Games is a great compact choice for trips and car journeys and for passing round at a holiday gathering. You have to solve puzzle cards by placing brightly coloured 3D shapes into a case.
It's suitable for kids from age 6. We got it for my 7 year old son for his birthday. It will definitely challenge a wide age range.
IQ Fit is nicely made and all the pieces fit into the case for storage so it's very practical too. The quality is good and its a great puzzles to have around when you have visitors staying.
Smart Games have lots of other logical thinking games for children too including very young children.
Rush hour is recommended for age 8+ but we'd start a bit younger with this one for kids who are interested.
We have this and it's one that comes out at intervals and my 9 year old son plays it until it gets too tricky and then puts it away for a while. It's recommended for age 8+ which seems about right to us.
Coding is a good way to develop logical thinking (so don't stop doing that!) but it's not the only way and there's definitely benefit to spending time on other activities. I've spent a lot of time learning about logical thinking as a child before I had access to computers. I had no idea that it was just the right thing for a future computer scientist to be doing, but it was.
I've put together my thoughts on the importance of logical thinking and some of our favourite games and puzzles that help develop logical thinking. We'll cover apps for logical reasoning in future, but it's good to have some screenless activities that develop tech skills.
More board games that develop STEM skills:
- Games that teach coding concepts to kids
- STEM Board Games for the whole family
- Bloxels Connected Game
- Beasts of Balance Connected Game
What is Logical Thinking?
Logical thinking or logical reasoning is applying formality to the way we think about things. It is reasoning in a disciplined way. It's working things out in a systematic way based on starting facts that you know to be true or false.
There's lots of theory that underpins logical thinking in the fields of philosophy and mathematics. Our article about George Boole is a good place to start if you want to help you kids learn more about Boolean logic specifically.
Logical Thinking is an aspect of Computational Thinking which is the set of thinking skills that are needed to be a computer scientist (and which are pretty valuable in everyday life too.)
The best way to get kids started with logical thinking is by playing games and solving puzzles.
The best way to get kids started with logical thinking is by playing games and solving puzzles.
Why is Logical Thinking Important?
Logical thinking enables us to develop computer systems. Computers are only able to think logically, though with increasingly sophisticated logic, we need to be able think logically in order to get the best from computers.
Logical thinking is a generally useful skill too. It helps you to understand that alarmist headlines often don't follow from the facts in an article. And it can be useful, if annoying, for winning arguments.
Logical Thinking Games
Lots of board games have an element of logical thinking to them, especially strategy games such as chess.
Clue / Cluedo
Clue (Cluedo in the UK) is a classic game that develops logical thinking. Players must eliminate suspects, weapons and rooms until they narrow down the circumstances of a murder. Logical thinking is critical here and players who grasp the rules of logic will have a distinct advantage. (There's even an academic project that explores the logic theory of Clue. )
There's also a Junior version available for younger players where you have to identify a cake thief instead of a murderer.
Cluedo is a favourite in our house although my partner often gets banned for being too good (he's fab at logical thinking and doesn't believe in letting the kids win!)
Cluedo is a favourite in our house although my partner often gets banned for being too good (he's fab at logical thinking and doesn't believe in letting the kids win!)
Labyrinth
Labyrinth was a big hit for us this Christmas. It has a really simple premise, you need to move your piece around the board to collect the pictures on your cards.But each move changes the board as players can slide rows and columns. You have to be able to think through the full impact of any move you make as several pieces will move at once and change the paths that are open to you.
This really makes your brain work. It's also a game where you find yourself thinking through the implications of other players moves (and their impact on them and you) so you're not sat doing nothing in between turns.
Forbidden Island
Forbidden Island was another hit for us at Christmas. It's a collaborative board game so either everyone wins or everyone loses.
The goal is to save a set of treasures and then get off the island before it gets flooded. Each player gets to perform 3 actions on their and you have to think logically several steps ahead to make the most of your moves. The collaborative aspect means that everyone is involved throughout the game.
Kids will find themselves reasoning using rules and constraints, and thinking several moves ahead. The board game is made from cards which means that the game is different every time.
Logical Thinking Puzzles
There's not always someone else around to play a board game with so it's good to have some one player puzzles too.
Smart Games: IQ FIT
IQ FIT by Smart Games is a great compact choice for trips and car journeys and for passing round at a holiday gathering. You have to solve puzzle cards by placing brightly coloured 3D shapes into a case.
It's suitable for kids from age 6. We got it for my 7 year old son for his birthday. It will definitely challenge a wide age range.
IQ Fit is nicely made and all the pieces fit into the case for storage so it's very practical too. The quality is good and its a great puzzles to have around when you have visitors staying.
Smart Games have lots of other logical thinking games for children too including very young children.
Rush Hour
Rush hour is a modern classic. I first came across it when my eldest nephew played it. You arrange plastic vehicles on a grid according to a puzzle card and must then move pieces to free a particular car.Rush hour is recommended for age 8+ but we'd start a bit younger with this one for kids who are interested.
Also look out for Junior and Safari versions of the game.
Laser Maze Game
This Laser Maze game is a really good way of developing logical thinking. The aim is to shine a laser onto a target. Yes, there's technology in this one too, we like that! You get a set of puzzle cards to solve with constraints on how you can place the pieces. The early puzzles are fairly easy but it does get progressively harder.We have this and it's one that comes out at intervals and my 9 year old son plays it until it gets too tricky and then puts it away for a while. It's recommended for age 8+ which seems about right to us.
More:
board games books computational thinking computer science education games gift guide gifts logic parenting puzzles screenless skills/fa-fire/ MONTH TRENDING$type=list
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- lego technic
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- let's start coding
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- logical thinking
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- machines
- magnetic
- make it
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- makedo
- maker
- makey makey
- making
- mardles
- mars
- mars rover
- marty
- math
- maths
- mbot
- mbot ranger
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- meccanoid 2.0
- merge vr
- mews
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- motors
- mover kit
- movie
- movies
- mu
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- munzee
- music
- my first robot
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- nature
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- news
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- ohbot
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- on the web
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- osmo
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- ouya
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- papercraft
- paperwhite
- parental controls
- parenting
- parrot
- pc
- people
- pet tech
- pets
- phone
- photography
- photon
- physics
- pi day
- picks
- pimoroni
- pinoccio
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- play
- playstation 4
- plezmo
- pocket code
- pocket money
- pokemon
- pokemon go
- poll
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- products
- professor einstein
- programming
- project
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- python
- racing
- raspberry pi
- reading
- reivew
- remote control
- research
- resource
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- retro
- review
- rights
- robot
- robot dog
- robot fish
- robot wars
- ROBOTERRA
- roboticals
- robotics
- robots
- role models
- role play
- romo
- romotive
- root
- rover
- safety
- sam labs
- samuel morse
- sandbox
- schools
- science
- scratch
- scratchjr
- screen time
- screenless
- screens
- sensors
- servos
- simbrix
- skills
- skylanders
- skylanders superchargers
- skylanders swap force
- smart pens
- smartphone
- smartwatch
- snap circuits
- social media
- solar power
- soldering
- sonic pi
- sony koov
- sound
- space
- sparki
- speaker
- speech sythesis
- sphero
- sphero mini
- spider
- star wars
- stars
- STEAM
- stem
- stikbot
- stop motion
- stop motion studio
- storage
- story
- strawbees
- students
- subscription
- subscriptions
- sugru
- summer
- swift
- tablet
- tablets
- tangible coding
- tech
- tech age
- tech craft
- tech is bad
- tech is good
- tech toys
- tech will save us
- technology
- technology will save us
- teens
- teknikio
- tekno
- teksta
- tenka labs
- tesla
- textiles
- thames & kosmos
- the extraordinaires
- tim berners lee
- tinkercad
- tinybop
- toddlers
- toot-toot
- top pick
- touch
- toy
- toys
- travelling
- TTS
- TV
- tween
- tweens
- tynker
- typing
- ux
- vehicles
- videos
- view-master
- views
- virtual reality
- voice assistants
- voice recognition
- vr
- vtech
- web
- websites
- wifi
- wii
- wii u
- windows 8
- wonder workshop
- wowwee
- writing
- writing. education
- xbox one
- xyzprinting