Ten Children’s Apps to Stretch Logical Thinking
By Warren Buckleitner
From the June 2019 Issue of Children’s Technology Review
Our encounter with the latest Thinkrolls app inspired us to find other apps to challenge a child’s logical thinking. These are apps that offer leveled puzzles that would be impossible to replicate in the real world. They turn gravity on and off or ask you to jump through portals, as you problem solve to achieve a goal. It’s the perfect way to playfully exercise abstract problem solving. Here are ten no-fail apps. If you’re a CTR subscriber ($60/year) you can see the larger list from which these ten were selected, at
https://reviews.childrenstech.com/ctr/home.php?category=logic6/4/2019&page=1
Hungry Like a Wolf (Affamato Come un Lupo), minibombo, www.minibombo.it, ($.99 on iPad, iPhone https://itunes.apple.com/it/app/affamato-come-un-lupo/id1258095926 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.minibombo.affamatocomeunlupo&hl=it), for ages 4–8.
A well designed maze game starring four animals (Help Hare, Snail, Dormouse and Mole) who must get away from a wolf. To move, you trag your finger along the mazes. This title was flagged by the 2019 BRDA Jurors, who liked the illustrations and characters. Video Link: https://youtu.be/2u01W6czK6Y
CTREX Link: http://reviews.childrenstech.com/ctr/fullreview.php?id=20022
Slice Fractions, Ululab Inc., http://ululab.com, ($3.99 on iPad, iPhone https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/slice-fractions-2/id1313342412?at=10lPQn&ct=press-kit), for ages 5–12.
Our favorite baby mammoth asks you to solve clever problems to help the Mammoth get his stolen hat back with the support of creatures that move, multiply and reveal hidden fractions. The 100 puzzles are scattered throughout three worlds, starting easy and getting extremely challenging. Thankfully there’s a reset button lets you retry your ideas over and over again. The underlying mathematical concepts in this app are solid, as is the pedagogy. But it’s been done without reducing the pure joy of the problem solving. Apps like this one remind you of the potential of the touch screen medium for exploring challenging mathematical concepts, in a playful way. The content comes from UQAM. This is a paid app with no ads or IAP (in-app purchases).
Video Link: https://youtu.be/a3Yp_IB-XNc
CTREX Link: http://reviews.childrenstech.com/ctr/fullreview.php?id=19790
.projekt, Kyrylo Kuzyk, http://stampedegames.net/, ($1.99 on iPad, iPhone, Android, Kindle, Windows, Mac OSX, Steam https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/projekt/id1244456273?mt=8 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.stampedegames.projekt https://www.amazon.com/gp/mas/dl/android?p=com.stampedegames.projekt), for ages 7-up.
Simple, powerful and well designed, minimalistic puzzle challenges you to take different points of view to recreate a shadow, made of stacked blocks. Content includes 60 levels. Progress is automatically saved.
Other than an early ping to “rate this app” there are no ads, high-scores or time limits. It’s easy to reset a level to try again. We would’ve liked the ability to jump to a harder level at any point, however. No language is required, and the tutorial is very well done. From creator of Evo Explores. Thanks to Barry O’Neill for suggesting this app.
Video Link: https://youtu.be/CWISCI41ZmM
CTREX Link: http://reviews.childrenstech.com/ctr/fullreview.php?id=19849
Monument Valley, Ustwo Games, www.ustwo.com, ($4.99 on iPad, iPhone https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/monument-valley-2/id1187265767?mt=8), for ages 6-up.
Ready for some applied 3D geometry and problem solving? If you liked the original game in 2014, you won’t be disappointed by Monument Valley 2. This time you help Ro as she teaches her child about the mysteries of the valley. You tap on the parts of a 3D maze to guide a mother and her child the maze of architecture, as the hidden pathways unfold in front of you.
This is a standalone adventure with a new story. You don’t need to have previously played Monument Valley.
Like the first edition, this app is addicting, beautiful and leveled perfectly to keep you challenged (and confused). Content includes ten new optical illusion maze puzzles that are ideal for a child in need of a challenge.
CTREX Link: http://reviews.childrenstech.com/ctr/fullreview.php?id=19661
Evo Explores, Kyrylo Kuzyk, http://stampedegames.net/, ($0.99 on iPad, iPhone, Android, Kindle, Windows, Steam https://itunes.apple.com/app/id1096049715 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.stampedegames.evoexplores http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CL8FN3M/), for ages 10-up.
A 4D puzzle that is rich with spatial problem solving opportunities. Those familiar with Monument Valley (the obvious inspiration for this game). Content includes ten levels that you unlock, as they gradually get harder. There are more puzzle mechanics than Monument Valley, and there’s more of a story. You turn cranks to manipulate walkways, rotate columns to build staircases, flip blocks shaped like a cassette tape to change planes, and more. The narrative is presented in writing between the levels, as you learn why Evo is exploring. There are no hints, so things can get frustrating when you get stuck. This app is available in many languages, and progress is saved for one player, automatically.
See also .projekt
Video Link: https://youtu.be/sSwCX4ML9T0
CTREX Link: http://reviews.childrenstech.com/ctr/fullreview.php?id=19860
Scratch 3.0, MIT Media Lab, www.media.mit.edu, ($0 on Windows, Mac OSX, Chrome), for ages 6-up.
It’s been five years since the last major Scratch update.This latest (Jan 2019) version was made in HTML/Javascript, meaning it is (for the first time) Flash Free, and it can work with touch interfaces. This is a big step into the future. Yet, based on our testing, Scratch 3.0 is also backward compatible with previous Scratch projects… and that’s great news. So you have nothing to loose, and a lot to gain. What’s new? The larger button interface offers more sprites, a the sound editor gives you more audio options. This edition runs better on tablet-based browsers, although native apps for both iOS and Android are planned. There are 40 language options. No code functions — or blocks — have been removed, but some commands have been changed or moved under “extensions” folder. These extensions let you work with hardware specific products like LEGO or micro:bit. We can expect this library of extensions to grow over time. In order to work with touch devices (namely touch screen Chromebooks, Windows Surface laptops, and tablets) some of the blocks are bigger. The paint editor now has an “eraser” that works in vector mode, with more options for selecting and adjusting colors, and you get more control over vector points (curve handles and point modes) and layers. Other features include new gradient controls, the ability to trim or time-shift sound, and a better tutorial.
CTREX Link: http://reviews.childrenstech.com/ctr/fullreview.php?id=20003
Attributes by Math Doodles, Carstens Studios, www.carstensstudios.com, ($2.99 on iPad http://itunes.com/apps/attributes-by-math-doodles), for ages 6-up.
Seven hand-illustrated, mind-bending math activities bring the essence of math problem solving to your multi-touch screen. This app represents some of the best work yet from mathematics advocate Daren Carstens. Each activity can be customized in a variety of ways dynamically, either by a nearby adult or by the learner him/herself. So there’s always a challenge, and children feel in control of the experience. The importance of this type of control, applied to a math learning setting, shouldn’t be underestimated. Activities include Category Stack (from earlier Math Doodles), Combo Table, Find it (you find the word, in a memory game); Pattern Sequence, Venn, Double Traits and If Else Sort. As with other Math Doodles apps, you can adjust the level or the counting system in real time. There’s also a “Mathathon Challenge” which lets you race the clock to see how many problems you can solve. The best part about Math Doodles is that it makes the math itself the reward rather than some extrinsic goal. After a few problems, you start to think — “wow — I really can do math.” This intrinsic sense of accomplishment builds engagement.
Video Link: https://youtu.be/zNoRttm_44c
CTREX Link: http://reviews.childrenstech.com/ctr/fullreview.php?id=18608
SpitKiss, Playdius, https://www.playdius-games.com/, ($1.99 https://itunes.apple.com/app/spitkiss/id1421224576 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.TripleTopping.TTSpitkiss), for ages 10-up.
Featuring an Angry Birds play mechanic, only with mazes, SpitKiss is best described as an interactive work of art. Your mission is to navigate through 80 levels of mazes, by precisely aiming spitballs. The goal is to get to the other spitkisser without hitting one of the spiked walls. This requires quick action and good timing.
The indirect narrative has to do with themes of polyamory and genderfluid/non-binary identities on two layers. One story takes place in the metanarrative of the spitkissers, the other in the hand-drawn story of the life of Ymer, the person whose body their story takes place inside. Sound unique? It is.
The art is excellent, and the play pattern will keep you busy, and challenged. Learn more at http://www.spitkissgame.com/
Made in Unity.
Video Link: https://youtu.be/ThGdhn5CuPk
CTREX Link: http://reviews.childrenstech.com/ctr/fullreview.php?id=20023
Ovivo, Izhard, http://ovivogame.com/, ($.99 on iPad https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&v=UsaFCsvXz44&q=https%3A%2F%2Fitunes.apple.com%2Fapp%2Fid1185071881&redir_token=w_QrGMzEeLLVycjLQ2sPoss1LTJ8MTU0OTg0OTE3MUAxNTQ5NzYyNzcx), for ages 9-up.
Challenging and rich with logical thinking problem solving, this maze game for iOS and Steam asks you to move a tiny balloon between two gravity fields (up and down). Each field is represented by black or white. Getting to your goal requires a good sense of timing, as you jump and float your way toward the next level while avoiding obstacles that could pop your balloon. Settings let you adjust the music and switch between finger controls and tilting. There is an underlying story that deals with “the journey to simplicity.” Created by Alex Vilassak. Discovered in the 2019 BolognaRagazzi Digital Award.
CTREX Link: http://reviews.childrenstech.com/ctr/fullreview.php?id=20024
Thinkrolls Space, Avokiddo, www.avokiddo.com, ($3.99 on iPad, iPhone https://itunes.apple.com/app/id1458751834?mt=8), for ages 5-up.
This is the fourth Thinkrolls logic app that we’ve reviewed and it is one of the best, and most challenging. Like the previous releases, you simply swipe to move a rolling character through mazes that start easy and get very challenging. Progress is saved automatically. Getting through a level requires strategic thinking, trial and error and figuring out how to use the attributes of a variety of alien characters that have special attributes.
Cheese Monster & Cheese introduces gravity, navigating a maze, continuity, planning, and reasoning. The Robot introduces gravity, force and stacking. The Soprano Elevator Monster is a stretchy singing creation that introduces simple machines, mechanics, springs, elasticity, hand–eye coordination, fine-motor skills. The Goo Monster & Cake are slimy aliens that guard every goo passage; you must feed them some cake to satisfy their appetite. Introduces advanced spatial relations, cause & effect, trial & error, sequencing. The Vanishing Rainbow Bridges are one way paths that disappear after once crossing, encouraging advanced spatial cognition and trial & error. The Antigravity Zone lets you use a lever to switch gravity on and off over specific regions. Plasma Field is a lava-lamp-like plasma that must be turned off before moving through it. Two-Way Teleporting lets you move quickly between different parts of a level, as many times as needed, introducing simple wormhole theory We liked how there are unlimited retries, no time limits and two difficulty modes. For younger children (5–8) there are 110 easy puzzles. For older children (8 up) there are 108 harder puzzles. One drawback to note — there is no hint option that we could find, so if you get stuck, you have to get some help, of the human variety. Our ethical screening found no problems — no ads or IAP. The app works fine offline, with no Internet connection. Release date: June 12, 2019.
Video Link: https://youtu.be/PoAmlUA3Veo
CTREX Link: http://reviews.childrenstech.com/ctr/fullreview.php?id=20090
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